The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·19V674000·Announced 2019-09-23

Spartan Metrostar and Gladiator Recall for Air Brake Control Line Defect

Spartan is recalling 2004-2020 Metrostar and Gladiator vehicles because unprotected air brake control lines may cause unexpected brake application and increase crash risk.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect in the air brake system that increases the risk of a crash, but the source text does not report any injuries or fatalities, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Spartan Motors USA is recalling certain 2004-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Spartan Metrostar vehicles equipped with a pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain system. The recall addresses a defect where the air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected, causing the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

If the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system. This loss of air can cause the brakes to apply unexpectedly, which increases the risk of a crash. The source text does not report any specific injuries or fatalities associated with this defect.

Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines and reroute them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 4, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
SPARTAN METROSTAR, GLADIATOR
Brand
SPARTAN
Manufacturer
Spartan Motors USA
Category
Vehicle — Emergency Response / Commercial
Hazard
Affected units
1,746

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • METROSTAR
  • GLADIATOR

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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