VehicleVerdict

2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 0 complaints on file for the 2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 12 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

0

NHTSA complaints

12

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2022 compare to other Gladiator years?

See all Gladiator years to avoid →

Does the 2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator have recalls?

12 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

24V323000SeatsMay 10, 2024 · 100 units

Defect

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Gladiator, Metro Star, and 2023-2024 FC-94 vehicles. The seat mount fastener may be undersized and could break. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence

A broken fastener can allow the seat to move, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the fastener as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2024. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 24007.

23V747000BrakesNovember 7, 2023 · 10 units

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.

Consequence

Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

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.

23V631000BrakesSeptember 12, 2023 · 660 units

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."

Consequence

Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

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.

23V156000TransmissionMarch 23, 2023 · 166 units

Defect

Spartan Fire LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Gladiator, Metro Star, FC-94 and KME Panther firetrucks. After the vehicle is reversed, the transmission control module (TCM) may fail to achieve the 4th gear lockup needed to initiate the water pump.

Consequence

A firetruck that is unable to pump water increases the risk of injury during a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2023. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 23007.

23V192000SteeringMarch 23, 2023 · 12 units

Defect

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2020, 2022 and 2023 Gladiator and 2023 MetroStar vehicles. The front-drive steer axle fasteners may loosen, resulting in a complete separation of the axle assembly joints.

Consequence

Steer axle assembly separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the pro-torque nut keeper on the steer axle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 10, 2023. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 23009.

22V871000SteeringNovember 23, 2022 · 6 units

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.

Consequence

Tie rod separation can result in a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

22V778000SteeringOctober 17, 2022 · 225 units

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.

Consequence

Tie rod separation can result in a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

22V682000BrakesSeptember 12, 2022 · 8 units

Defect

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2022 Gladiator and MetroStar fire trucks. The front wheel parking brake may not engage.

Consequence

Failure of the parking brake can result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will repair the parking brake, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22005.

22V373000OtherMay 24, 2022 · 27 units

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.

Consequence

Inoperable vehicle lighting can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

22V019000TransmissionJanuary 20, 2022 · 22 units

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

21V967000Fuel SystemDecember 13, 2021 · 114 units

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.

Consequence

A high pressure fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

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.

21V899000TransmissionNovember 18, 2021 · 260 units

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator — common questions

Is the 2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator reliable?

The record is thin — 0 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 12 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns affecting the 2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Spartan Fire Gladiator years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Gladiator years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2016, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2017, 2013. The cleanest record among Gladiator years belongs to 2026.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.