RoadVitals

2005 Spartan K3

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 Sep 10, 2007
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 Sep 1, 2015
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 2005 Spartan K3, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and driver assistance categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Driver assistance110.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Interior & seats110.0%
  • Exterior lighting110.0%
  • Other / unspecified110.0%
  • Powertrain (other)110.0%

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
15V549000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Sep 1, 2015
1,212 units potentially affected
The defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 K2, K3 and MM motorhomes manufactured March 17, 2003, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the engine cooling fan may separate from the fan drive while the fan is spinning.
The risk: If the engine area is open and the cooling fan is operating and detaches, someone nearby may be injured.
The remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fan and fan drive system, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on October 29, 2015. The recall began on October 29, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-582-3454. Spartan's number for this recall is 15014.
Spartan Motors USAManufacturer number 15014View on NHTSA.gov
09V455000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Nov 30, 2009
14 units potentially affected
The defect: SPARTAN IS RECALLING 14 MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 MOTORHOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 12, 2004 AND MARCH 1, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.
The risk: AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: SPARTAN IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE RECALL 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-4277 OPTION 1.
SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC.Manufacturer number 09025View on NHTSA.gov
06V413000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Oct 31, 2006
1 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH A CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE IN A FLEETWOOD HERITAGE MOTOR HOME, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION (VVA) OIL LINE MAY WEAR CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.
The risk: AN OIL LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE THAT MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 05E078). THE VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED, THE VVA OIL LINE REPLACED, AND A RETENTION CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ONNOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-877-777-3126, SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.
SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC.Manufacturer number SPEC 06025View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+7 more
Filed Sep 10, 2007

VEHICLE: 2005 TRAVEL SUPREME ENVOY MODEL 38DS04 CLASS A MOTOR HOME WITH SPARTAN CHASSIS. DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE DRIVELINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE /MISTAKEN REVERSED ASSEMBLY CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AND POTENTIAL DROP OUT ON ROAD CAUSING UNDUE WEAR TO ALL DRIVELINE COMPONENTS AND DAMAGE DUE TO STRIKING BOLTS IN CHASSIS, AS WELL AS EXTREME DISCOMFORT DURING DRIVING AT LESS THAN NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. UNIT HAD NUMEROUS OTHER SERIOUS ASSEMBLY DEFECTS. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED WRONG CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE ROAD SURFACES AT NIGHT AT ANY SAFE OR ACCEPTABLE DISTANCE, NOT ADJUSTABLE. WINDSHIELD WASHERS WERE CLOGGED AT SPRAYER TUBE JOINTS WITH DRIED SEALANT PREVENTING WINDSHIELDS FROM BEING WASHED AND OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY TO DRIVER. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT MY HANDS-ON HELP ON-SITE TO REPAIR. AIR PRESSURE SYSTEM FOR FRONT BRAKES WAS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY WITH AIR SHUTTING DOWN AND ERRORS AFFECTING BRAKING FUNCTION AND SAFETY, SETTING OFF WARNINGS. EXHAUST WOULD ENTER REAR OF VEHICLE WHICH EMITTED BURNING RUBBER AROMAS WHEN USED. FULL REPORTS INCLUDE ABOUT 14 PAGES WITH MUCH MORE DATA REGARDING SIGNIFICANT AND SERIOUS VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEMS, CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS. FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH, AND STEP WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN IN TRAVEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10202459
Incident
Oct 1, 2006
Mileage
900 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

TSB-15-310-002

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

SPARTAN MOTORS: SOME MOTOR HOME CHASSIS ARE EXPERIENCING A FUEL TANK DEFORMITY AND FUEL SENDER BY SHOWING LESS FUEL ON FUEL GAUGE THAN IN FUEL TANK AND WOULD NEED TO HAVE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM ADJUSTMENT. MODEL 2002-15 MM, K3, K2, NVS. *PE

05170001

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

ENGINE COOLING - MECHANICAL FAN DRIVE V-BELT ALIGNMENT. SPARTAN K2 AND K3 CHASSIS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICALLY DRIVEN ENGINE COOLING FAN, MANUFACTURED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. MISALIGNED PULLEYS MAY CAUSE DRIVE BELTS TO COME OFF. *TT

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 K3 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025010—
2024120—
2023240—
2022070—
2021060—
2020050—
2019040—
2018060—
2017070—
2016050—
2015090—
2014070—
2013090—
2012280—
2011090—
2010170—
2009040—
2008060—
2007040—
2006040—
2005Viewing140—
2004030—

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.