2023 Spartan Fire Gladiator problems

Defect

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan) is recalling certain 2023-2026 Gladiator, Metrostar, FC-94, KME Panther, and 2024-2025 Predator vehicles. The actuator lever arm in the cab door latch may bind or become wedged, preventing the door from opening.

Consequence

A door that cannot be opened may trap occupants inside the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the door latches as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 20, 2025. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 25010.

Defect

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Gladiator, 2024-2025 Metro Star and 2024 KME Panther vehicles equipped with certain independent front suspension assemblies. The lower control arm retention bolts could become brittle and break after being tightened.

Consequence

A broken bolt head can become a projectile, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy

Spartan Fire will replace the bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2024. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 24010.

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.

Defect

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Gladiator, MetroStar, 2024 Commercial, FC-94, and KME Panther trucks equipped with Hercules HC 1.7 multiplex nodes. In the event of a short circuit or wiring failure, the firmware in the node may fail to shut off the output pin, resulting in overloaded electrical circuits.

Consequence

Overloaded electrical circuits can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

Remedy

Weldon will update the firmware, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 24003.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.