2020 Spartan Gladiator problems, complaints & recalls

2020 Spartan Gladiator recalls (7)

• Recall 21V436000Jun 9, 20211 vehicles
  EQUIPMENT

  Four Guys Stainless Tank & Equip., Inc. (Four Guys) is recalling one 2020 Pumper firetruck equipped with an Akron Bass battery-powered 3600 wireless remote controller. The wireless remote controller's sleep mode is disabled, and results in the batteries discharging faster than normal.

  Risk: Inability to use the wireless remote controller can hinder firefighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Four Guys will request owners return the affected wireless remote controllers to Akron Brass for a software update, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification. Owners may contact Four Guys customer service at 1-814-634-8373.

• Recall 20V203000Apr 8, 20209 vehicles
  PARKING BRAKE

  Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Spartan Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency Response chassis vehicles modified by Marion Body Works. The park brake control line may loosen and possibly come out the fitting while the vehicle is in motion.

  Risk: If the air line comes out of the fitting while the vehicle is in motion, the park brake can inadvertently be applied and the vehicle could suddenly decelerate, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Marion Body Works dealers will inspect and properly tighten the park brake control line, free of charge. All of the vehicles will be repaired before being delivered to customers, free of charge. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261.

• Recall 20V163000Mar 20, 20204 vehicles
  PARKING BRAKE

  SVI Trucks is recalling certain 2019-2020 Spartan Fire Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency Response vehicles modified by SVI Trucks. The park brake control line may loosen and possibly come out the fitting while the vehicle is in motion. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

  Risk: If the air line comes out of the fitting while the vehicle is in motion, the park brake can inadvertently be applied and the vehicle could suddenly decelerate, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: SVI dealers will inspect and properly tighten the park brake control line, free of charge. All of the vehicles will be repaired before being delivered to customers, free of charge. Owners may contact SVI dealers customer service at 1-888-784-1112. SVI Truck's number for this recall is 20V138.

• Recall 20V138000Mar 10, 202086 vehicles
  PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR

  Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Fire Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency vehicles. The park brake control line may loosen and separate, possibly causing the park brake to be unintentionally applied.

  Risk: If the park brake is applied while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle may suddenly decelerate and experience a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the fitting control line, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2020. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 20005.

• Recall 19V828000Nov 19, 201994 vehicles
  SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

  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.

  Remedy: 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 19V674000Sep 23, 20191,746 vehicles
  SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

  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.

  Remedy: 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 19V523000Jul 12, 2019234 vehicles
  STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · SUSPENSION:FRONT

  Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles equipped with an independent front suspension and Koni shocks. The front shocks may separate from their upper mount on the front suspension. The loose shock may contact and damage the steering gear housing, possibly causing a steering fluid leak and a loss of power steering assist.

  Risk: A loss of power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install new shock bolts, and shims if necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19015.

Recent 2020 Spartan Gladiator complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Jun 19, 20204,537 miCOVisibility & Wipers

   The wiper motor on a new fire apparatus fails during use. The wiper motor has been replaced four times in six months. Local dealer has replaced the entire wiper and linkage once. The spartan gladiator chassis was placed in service 11/2019 and the first failure was 2/6/20. The motor was replaced. The next failure was 2/28/20. The motor was replaced again. On 4/1 the truck went to the dealer for another wiper motor for a failure. On 6/18 the truck went out of service again…

   NHTSA complaint #11329768 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology