2013 Spartan K2 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (1)
Safety recalls (8)
Electrical System:starter Assembly 2017-05-31 · campaign 17V351000 · 721 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2010-2014 K2 and K3 motor home chassis and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs. A component within the starter motor may break, potentially resulting in the starter motor overheating or drawing excessive current.
Risk: A starter motor that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Spartan will notify the purchasers of the chassis and dealers will replace the starters, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17012.
Suspension:front:control Arm 2017-03-13 · campaign 17V160000 · 2,783 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Gladiator, 2016-2017 MetroStar, 2012-2018 K2, 2011-2018 K3, 2017-2018 K4, and 2011-2017 MM vehicles. The ball joints on the independent front suspension (IFS) modules can loosen and separate, leading to a partial loss of steering.
Risk: A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will remove, clean, apply thread locker, and reinstall the properly torqued ball joint, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17004.
Steering:linkages 2014-12-23 · campaign 14V812000 · 277 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Gladiator, K2, K3, MetroStar, and MM motorhome and emergency response chassis cabs manufactured November 28, 2012, to October 15, 2013. The castle nuts for the steering linkage may loosen, allowing the steering linkage to separate.
Risk: If the steering linkage separates, a loss of steering control would occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the castle nuts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 14023.
Service Brakes, Air 2014-11-24 · campaign 14V747000 · 1,059 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Gladiator, DR, K2, K3, MetroStar, MM, and NVS vehicles manufactured December 14, 2011, to October 21, 2014, equipped with certain Wabco Quick Release Valves with Double Check. In the affected valves, the rubber diaphragm may be damaged by sharp edges on the valve seat ribs, reducing the available air pressure in the air tanks.
Risk: The reduced air pressure levels may reduce braking performance and/or the parking brakes could reapply, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the valve, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 14021.
Steering:linkages 2013-10-25 · campaign 13V531000 · 175 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 K2, K3, MetroStar, and MM motor homes and one emergency response chassis. Castle nuts for the steering linkage ball joint fasteners, which mount to bell cranks, may be loose. If the castle nuts become completely loose, the steering linkage may separate from the bell cranks without warning.
Risk: This may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the castle nuts and tighten them as necessary. The recall began on December 9, 2013. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's recall campaign number is 13025.
Service Brakes, Air:antilock 2013-08-30 · campaign 13V392000 · 113 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motor Chassis, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 MM, 2011-2014 K2, and 2010-2012 K3 motor home chassis. Due to contact with the steering relay rod, the ABS modulator valve may fracture resulting in air not being applied to the affected wheel end.
Risk: This may increase stopping distance of the vehicle or cause the vehicle to pull to one side. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and dealers will reorient the ABS modulator valve and install spacers for additional clearance, free of charge. The recall began on September 17, 2013. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. spartan's recall campaign number is 12008.
Suspension:front:wheel Bearing 2013-06-10 · campaign 13V242000 · 75 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 K2, K3, and MM motor homes manufactured March 2, 2012, through July 30, 2012 and equipped with a 1660 independent front suspension supplied by Reyco Granning. The motor homes may have incorrect wheel bearings installed in the front suspension.
Risk: Incorrect wheel bearings may cause the vehicle to pull to one side and with continued use, there is a risk of a fire starting at the wheel.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and dealers will inspect the bearings and replace them, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2013. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's campaign number is 13-009.
Service Brakes, Air:antilock:wheel Speed Sensor 2012-12-06 · campaign 12V565000 · 23 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Motors Chassis is recalling certain model year 2013 K2, K3, and MM motorhome chassis, manufactured July 23, 2012, through November 7, 2012 and equipped with an independent front suspension that has the ABS modulator valve mounted in a forward position. The front brake hoses or the ABS sensor cable may be damaged as a result of contact with the swaybar.
Risk: Damaged brake hoses will result in insufficient air being applied to the front brake chambers. Lack of air to the front brake may increase stopping distances. Damage to the ABS sensor cable may disable the ABS. Either condition may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2012. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400.
Service bulletins (6)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Steering 2023-12-11 · TSB23-260-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about the power steering fluid level sensor could exhibit leaks where sensor seals against power steering reservoir and provides instructions on replacing current power steering level sensor with improved sensor design.
Suspension 2018-03-28 · TSB18-250-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the service bulletin precribes a solution for certain washers installed on the suspension system that may be subject to breaking/cracking.
Suspension:multiple Axle:torque Arm 2017-08-18 · 4VZ-E9QSR-09 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides instructions on how to apply appropriate torque to rear suspension fasteners to resolve popping noises.
Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly 2015-09-17 · TSB-15-310-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
spartan motors: some motor home chassis are experiencing a fuel tank deformity and fuel sender by showing less fuel on fuel gauge than in fuel tank and would need to have fuel sender float arm adjustment. model 2002-15 mm, k3, k2, nvs. *pe
Suspension:rear 2015-09-09 · TSB-15-350-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
spartan motors: hadley control module loss of power due to an independent electrical circuit that supplies the power to control module. model 2013-15 k2, k3. *pe
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2013-10-03 · TSB-13-500-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
spartan: on certain motorhome chassis, the hadley air level system module may not be activated by the interface module and need to change constant battery circuit of module to switch power source (accessory circuit). models 2007-2013 k2, k3. *pe
What owners report
2017-08-21 · Suspension · 38,000 mi“today, (8/21/2017) is the first i learned of safety recall 17v-160. spartan refuses to allow me to take my motor home to my service facility 30 miles from my home. instead, they insist i take the motor home almost 75 miles, where i must leave it an extended time for the repair, to a spartan authorized repair facility, that purchased a special tor…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.