RoadVitals

1996 Spartan Gladiator

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Apr 29, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest May 12, 1999
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1996 Spartan Gladiator, most frequently naming the interior & seats category. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Interior & seats1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
99V118000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

May 12, 1999
1,753 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THESE FIRE TRUCKS ARE ALL 4-DOOR MODELS WHICH CONTAIN DUAL, FORWARD FACING PASSENGER SEATS. THE HARDWARE UTILIZED TO MOUNT THE SEAT BOX TO THE CAB FLOOR AND TO THE BACKWALL STRUCTURE, AND ALSO TO MOUNT THE TYPE 1 SEAT BELT SYSTEMS, WAS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NOS. 207/210, ""SEATING SYSTEMS" AND "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
The risk: THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING/RESTRAINING HARDWARE CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL ALLOWING THE SEAT/SEAT BOX ASSEMBLY TO BREAK FREE OF ITS MOUNTING TO THE CAB FLOOR AND/OR BACKWALL WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THOSE SEATS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING FASTENERS.
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.Manufacturer number SPEC 98049View on NHTSA.gov
99V010000

STRUCTURE

Jan 20, 1999
3,210 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THE CAB TILT SYSTEM CONTAINS A 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL SOLENOID ASSEMBLY AS AN ACCESSORY TO THE CAB TILT ELECTRIC MOTOR/HYDRAULIC PUMP ASSEMBLY. RAIN, SNOW, SALT SPRAY OR OTHER CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT CAN CORRODE THE SOLENOID OR "BRIDGE" THE ENERGIZING COIL WIRE TERMINAL CAUSING THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO OPERATE UNCONTROLLABLY.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO ACTUATE WITHOUT CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HERMETICALLY SEALED SOLENOID ASSEMBLY.
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.Manufacturer number 97019View on NHTSA.gov
98V286000

SUSPENSION

Nov 6, 1998
39 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. IF THE DRIVER ACCELERATES IN A TURN ABOVE 20 MPH FORWARD SPEED, THE LOCK PIN IS ACTUATED AND CAUSES THE AXLE TO RESIST RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED BECAUSE THE LOCK PIN IS BINDING ON THE CLAMP PLATE SURFACE.
The risk: ENGAGING THE LOCK PIN IN THE LCMP PLATE HOLE AT HIGH FORWARD SPEEDS CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE LOCK PIN AND/OR THE CLAMP PLATE HOLE. LANE CHANGES AND OTHER VEHICLE MANEUVERS WILL GREATLY INCREASE CONTACT FREQUENCY AND CAUSES WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAG AXLES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Apr 29, 1999

FRONT DRIVERS POWER SEAT BROKE OFF THE POWER DEVICE SO THE WHOLE SEAT SLIDES OFF THE RAILS COMPLETELY. IT IS CURRENTLY TIED ON WITH HOSE CLAMPS AND TIE WRAPS, BUT IS NOT SECURE. THE CHEV DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT. GLAVAL CORP., THE INSTALLER OF THE SEATS ADMITS NO RESPONSIBILITY. NO BODY SHOPS ARE WILLING TO TRY WELDING IT BACK ON. WE ARE LESS THAN TWO YEARS INTO A FOUR YEAR LEASE, SO HAVE TO DRIVE IT AS IS.

NHTSA ID
706114
Incident
Jan 10, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

4S7-B9X7H-07

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

This service bulletin provides instructions on how to remedy or replace cab lock down mounting structures.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Spartan Gladiator by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000—
2022000—
2021000—
2020170—
20190140—
20180130—
20170150—
20160140—
20150260—
20142280—
20130290—
20120240—
20110260—
20100290—
20090230—
20080210—
20070160—
20060120—
2005090—
2004080—
2003030—
2002050—
2001040—
2000010—
1999030—
1998040—
1997040—
1996Viewing140—
1995040—
1994040—
1993020—
1992030—
1991030—
1990030—
1989020—
1988020—
1987020—
1986010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.