2008 Spartan Metrostar recalls and problems
The 2008 Spartan Metrostar has 12 safety recalls and 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Spartan dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2008 Spartan Metrostar vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2008 Spartan Metrostar recalls
Recall 19V-828: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2005-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Metrostar vehicles equipped with pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain systems. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected.
Risk: Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Marion Body Works will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 22, 2019. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.
Recall 19V-674: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Spartan vehicles equipped with a pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain system. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19017.
Recall 18V-691: Equipment
Problem: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2001-2019 Spartan MetroStar and Gladiator emergency vehicles. The mounting fasteners for the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) cabinets may not be the correct size, allowing the cabinets to break free from their mountings in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the EMS cabinets become loose during a crash, the cabinets may become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect size fasteners with the correct fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18030.
Recall 18V-350: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2001-2018 Spartan Gladiator, Diamond, MetroStar, and Advantage emergency response vehicles. The affected vehicles may not be equipped with a pressure protection valve installed between the air reservoir and the lubrication control module. If the air line were to become disconnected between the lubrication control module and the air reservoir, a loss of air to the air brake system could occur. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: A loss of air to the air brake system could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and install a pressure protection valve, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18017.
Recall 17V-294: Parking Brake
Problem: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency response vehicles equipped with a supplemental park brake system (SPBS). The directions to activate the SPBS incorrectly state to "Pull" the actuation knob, when it should say "Push."
Risk: If the operator follows the incorrect directions and believes that the supplemental front park brake is applied when it is not, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and supply a new actuator control knob with the correct directions, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 17009.
Recall 15V-547: Visibility
Problem: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, to August 6, 2010. The affected vehicles have mirror lenses that may fall off due to vibration.
Risk: If the mirror lens comes loose and and falls out, the driver's ability to see objects in the mirror would be impaired, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan cutomer service at 1-800-582-3454. Spartan's number for this recall is 15016.
Recall 15V-448: Tires
Problem: Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency response vehicles manufactured January 18, 2007 to February 9, 2015. The front wheels of the affected vehicles have valve stems that may rub against the brake caliper.
Risk: If the valve stems rub against the brake caliper, a hole may develop causing the tire to deflate suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front wheel valve stems and replace any that have wear marks, free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 15012.
Recall 14V-623: Power Train
Problem: Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured November 29, 2005, to June 19, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the transmission fluid cooler may fail, allowing the engine coolant to mix with the transmission fluid.
Risk: If the engine coolant mixes with the transmission fluid, the transmission may not shift properly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and dealers will install a new transmission fluid cooler, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on November 25, 2014 and will also be mailed a second letter when parts are available. Parts should be available in mid to late January 2015. The recall began on February 9, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 14017.
Recall 11V-500: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Problem: Spartan chassis (Spartan), is recalling certain model year 2008 diamond, model year 2008-2009 furion along with model year 2011, model year 2010 furion r/t, model year 2007-2012 gladiator, model year 2008-2012 metrostar and model year 2012 spartan force emergency rescue transport vehicles equipped with an electronic stability control (Esc) manufactured from april 12, 2007, through september 30, 2011. The ESC module may cause the ESC system to activate unnecessarily when the vehicle is driven in a particular manner on certain unique road conditions and may adversely affect the slip angle calculation by the ESC module.
Risk: This might cause the ESC to perceive an over steering situation and therefore apply the front axle outer wheel service brake until the vehicle is perceived to be stable by the ESC. These conditions could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and replace the control module free of charge. The safety recall began on december 19, 2011. Owners may contact spartan at 1-800-543-5008 option 5.
Recall 10V-209: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Problem: Spartan is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 gladiator, metrostar, furion, and diamond fire apparatus and ambulance chassis manufactured from january 29, 2008 through january 25, 2010, equipped with meritor wabco electronic stability control systems (Esc). In certain cases, the ESC may inadvertently interpret vehicle instability, even though the vehicle may be stable, which would require intervention of brake activation to a selected wheel.
Risk: Inadvertent brake application to a selected wheel may cause the drive to try and over correct, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and authorized service centers will perform the repairs free of charge. The safety recall began on july 12, 2010. Owners may contact spartan at 1-800-543-5008, option 5.
Recall 10V-210: Suspension
Problem: Spartan is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 gladiator, metrostar, advantage, and diamond fire apparatus chassis manufactured from january 1, 2007 through april 15, 2010, equipped with independent front suspensions supplied by ridewell corporation. Bell crank support brackets installed on the suspension cradle may crack, or separate, from the main structure (Cradle assembly). Certain welds that attach the bell crank support brackets may have been omitted during the weldment operation of the suspension cradle.
Risk: A complete separation of the bell crank support bracket(S) may cause steering impairment which could result in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 26, 2010. Owners may contact spartan at spartan chassis at 1-800-543-4277 - option 1.
Recall 10V-052: Seat Belts
Problem: Spartan is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 advantage, barron, gladiator, metrostar, mountain star, and tr-1 fire apparatus chassis cabs manufactured between february 27, 2003 and november 17, 2009 and belts sold to various vehicle alters. Certain seat belt anchorages fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Risk: The seat belt may separate from the cab during a vehicle crash and fail to properly restrain the occupant. This may result in personal injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 2, 2010. Owners may contact spartan chassis at 1-800-543-4277 - option 1.
2008 Spartan Metrostar problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 1 | |
| Power Train | 1 |
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 5,848 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2008 Spartan Metrostar complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other Spartan Metrostar years
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Spartan Metrostar have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2008 Spartan Metrostar: 19V-828 (service brakes, air), 19V-674 (service brakes, air), 18V-691 (equipment), 18V-350 (service brakes, air), 17V-294 (parking brake) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Spartan Metrostar?
Owners report unknown or other problems most often (1 reports), followed by power train (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 5,848 miles.
Are Spartan recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Spartan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.