2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (16)
Parking Brake 2023-11-07 · campaign 23V747000 · 10 vehicles
Defect: Custom Fire Apparatus, Inc (Custom Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Spartan Gladiator, MetroStar, and FC-94 emergency vehicles. A defect in the inversion valve may delay the park brake setting after engagement, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally.
Risk: Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Custom Fire will inspect and replace the faulty inversion valve, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2023. Owners may contact Custom Fire customer service at 1-715-294-2555. Custom Fire's number for this recall is 23V-631/TC 2023-512.
Parking Brake 2023-09-12 · campaign 23V631000 · 660 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Gladiator, Metro Star, 2022-2024 FC-94, 2022-2023 KME Panther, and 2023 KME Predator emergency vehicles. A defect in the inversion valve may delay park brake engagement, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inversion valve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2023. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-800-867-6478. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 23017.
Equipment 2023-06-01 · campaign 23V389000 · 5 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2018-2019, 2021 Gladiator and 2020 MetroStar emergency vehicles. The rope rescue anchor point (hoist ring) may have been improperly assembled, which can allow a hinge pin to separate from the ring.
Risk: Hinge pin separation from the hoist ring can result in hoist ring failure and increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the hoist rings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2023. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-640. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 23011.
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly 2022-11-23 · campaign 22V871000 · 6 vehicles
Defect: Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Spartan Fire Gladiator, MetroStar, FC-94 and KME Panther fire trucks. The tie rod clamps may have been improperly heat-treated, causing them to fail and allowing the tie rods to separate.
Risk: Tie rod separation can result in a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both tie rod clamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Marion's customer service at 1-715-754-5261. Marion's number for this recall is 22V-778.
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly 2022-10-17 · campaign 22V778000 · 225 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Gladiator, MetroStar, FC-94, and KME Panther emergency vehicles. The tie rod clamps may have been improperly heat-treated, causing them to fail and allowing the tie rods to separate.
Risk: Tie rod separation can result in a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rod clamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 2, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22007.
Electrical System 2022-07-26 · campaign 22V539000 · 25 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar fire trucks. There may be a loose neutral screw connection within the QO Plug-On Neutral Load Center. If that connection is loose, the affected load center can overheat.
Risk: An overheated load center can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace or repair the neutral screw connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22003.
Equipment:emergency:siren/Lighting/Strobes:wiring 2022-05-24 · campaign 22V373000 · 27 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Gladiator, MetroStar, and 2022-2023 FC-94 fire trucks. An additional resistor was incorrectly installed on the printed circuit board, which can disrupt CAN network communication and cause vehicle lighting to fail.
Risk: Inoperable vehicle lighting can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1-800-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22001.
Power Train:axle Assembly 2022-01-20 · campaign 22V019000 · 22 vehicles
Defect: Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Spartan Gladiator, MetroStar, and MetroStar-RT vehicles equipped with Meritor 180 series drive pinions. The rear axle drive pinion may fracture.
Risk: A fractured drive pinion may contact the brake drop hose, and unintentionally engage the parking brake without detection, or without the brake lights activating, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Meritor will inspect and replace the drive pinion, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261. Marion Body Works number for this recall is 21V-899.
Fuel System, Diesel:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail 2021-12-13 · campaign 21V967000 · 114 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2022 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. The fuel tubes between the fuel rail and the injectors for cylinders four, five, and six may fatigue and crack, which can result in a high pressure fuel leak.
Risk: A high pressure fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: On engines with 75 miles or less, dealers will install vibration isolators to the fuel tubes. Engines with more than 75 miles will receive new fuel tubes with vibration isolators. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 21017.
Power Train:axle Assembly 2021-11-18 · campaign 21V899000 · 260 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Gladiator, MetroStar and FC-94 emergency vehicles. The rear axle drive pinion may fracture.
Risk: A fractured drive pinion may contact the brake drop hose, and unintentionally engage the parking brake or activate the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Meritor will inspect and replace the drive pinion, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 21016.
Equipment:emergency:fire Supression 2021-07-26 · campaign 21V567000 · 52 vehicles
Defect: Marion Body Works Inc. is recalling certain 2009-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles. The pump shift solenoid may corrode internally, causing a loss of power to the pump control module.
Risk: A loss of power to the pump control module can cause a loss of water pressure for fighting fires, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the solenoids, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261. Marion Body Works number for this recall is 21V-329.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump 2021-06-17 · campaign 21V458000 · 8 vehicles
Defect: Marion Body Works Inc. is recalling certain 2019-2021 Spartan Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. Pressure may build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan dealers will replace the power steering pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 24, 2021. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261. Marion Body Works number for this recall is 21V-252.
Electrical System 2021-05-10 · campaign 21V329000 · 2,130 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC is recalling certain 2009-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles. The fire water pump solenoid may corrode internally, causing a loss of power to the pump control module.
Risk: A loss of power to the pump control module can cause a loss of water pressure for fighting fires, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace suspect solenoids, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 9, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump 2021-04-10 · campaign 21V252000 · 243 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. Pressure may build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan Fire will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new power steering pump, free of charge. The recall began on June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400.
Steering:critical Fasteners 2021-02-22 · campaign 21V103000 · 73 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. The steering gear mounting bolts may become loose and back out, resulting in difficulty steering.
Risk: Difficulty steering, or the inability to steer in both directions, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Spartan Fire will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and washers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 22, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 21-01.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2020-12-10 · campaign 20V762000 · 193 vehicles
Defect: Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles equipped with Weldon V-Mux Vista IV Standard LCD displays used for controlling emergency vehicle lighting and HVAC functions. These displays may experience low voltage spikes, and cause the LCD display to lock up or become nonfunctional, due to varying electrical installations.
Risk: Operator of vehicle may not be able to read the LCD screen and may not be able to use buttons or both unless they reset the power. If the LCD display appears blank, emergency personnel may not have immediate access to the functions and controls operated by the LCD screen which could delay emergency operations, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Spartan Fire will notify owners, and dealers will replace the unit or apply a retrofit remedy, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400.
Service bulletins (26)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-27 · TSB26-150-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about certain vehicles that may experience leaks through the cab roof seams into the cab interior and instructions on how to repair the leak.
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-24 · TSB25-110-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about certain vehicles with cab tilt crossbar tubes that may crack adjacent to the cab pivot mounts and instructions on how to remove and weld in a replacement tube.
Unknown Or Other 2025-03-27 · TSB25-210-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides instructions to replace new crossmember gussets if the frame crossmember gussets used in roadmaxx rear suspension equipped vehicles may experience a crack due to a material deviation by the supplier.
Suspension 2025-03-27 · TSB25-240-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides instructions to replace the steering gear cover fasteners if the ifs steering gear cover develops a leak as a result of the cover fastener loosening.
Suspension 2024-02-14 · Service Bulletin · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about certain vehicles greater than 54k rear gawr, equipped with an al-600 suspension and rt-58-185 drive axle assembly that may have the potential for a defect in a spartan performed weld that may cause separation of the track rod pedestal from the top of the rear axle. as
Interior Lighting 2023-12-21 · TSB23-540-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about certain vehicles equipped with 92 inch or longer roof mounted light bars that could experience fracture of the light bar mounting brackets, as well as provides instructions to replace the light bar bracket with improved bracket design.
Showing the 6 most recent of 26 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.