RoadVitals

2012 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.
2
Latest Jun 13, 2017
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.
8
Latest May 31, 2017
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Spartan K3, most frequently naming the brakes and steering categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Steering150.0%

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

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

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
17V351000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

May 31, 2017
721 units potentially affected
The defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2010-2014 K2 and K3 motor home chassis and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs. A component within the starter motor may break, potentially resulting in the starter motor overheating or drawing excessive current.
The risk: A starter motor that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Spartan will notify the purchasers of the chassis and dealers will replace the starters, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17012.
Spartan Motors USAManufacturer number 17012View on NHTSA.gov
17V160000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

Mar 13, 2017
2,783 units potentially affected
The defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Gladiator, 2016-2017 MetroStar, 2012-2018 K2, 2011-2018 K3, 2017-2018 K4, and 2011-2017 MM vehicles. The ball joints on the independent front suspension (IFS) modules can loosen and separate, leading to a partial loss of steering.
The risk: A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will remove, clean, apply thread locker, and reinstall the properly torqued ball joint, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17004.
Spartan Motors USAManufacturer number 17004View on NHTSA.gov
16V676000

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

Sep 19, 2016
264 units potentially affected
The defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2010-2017 Emergency Response K3, Metrostar, and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs and motor home chassis manufactured April 12, 2010, to August 31, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power steering pump that may have an occasional loss of output power resulting in reduced or intermittent loss of power steering assist.
The risk: An intermittent loss of power steering assist could increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pumps, free of charge. The recall began on October 11, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16022.
Spartan Motors USAManufacturer number 16022View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed Jun 13, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SPARTAN MOTORS MOTOR HOME (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SPARTAN MANUFACTURER AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, POWER STEERING, AND POWER STEERING LINE WERE REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V676000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID
10994629
Incident
May 6, 2012
Mileage
6,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 10, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NEWMAR KING AIRE RV EQUIPPED WITH A 2012 SPARTAN CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE COMPRESSOR BRAKE WAS ACTIVATED AND THEN THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE COMPRESSOR BRAKE SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, CAUSING THE TRAILER BRAKES TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. ...UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF UPDATED 07/16/2013*JS

NHTSA ID
10515987
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
6,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

TSB23-260-001

STEERING

This service bulletin is about the power steering fluid level sensor could exhibit leaks where sensor seals against power steering reservoir and provides instructions on replacing current power steering level sensor with improved sensor design.

4VZ-E9QSR-09

SUSPENSION; SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE:TORQUE ARM

This service bulletin provides instructions on how to apply appropriate torque to rear suspension fasteners to resolve popping noises.

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

TSB-13-500-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

SPARTAN: ON CERTAIN MOTORHOME CHASSIS, THE HADLEY AIR LEVEL SYSTEM MODULE MAY NOT BE ACTIVATED BY THE INTERFACE MODULE AND NEED TO CHANGE CONSTANT BATTERY CIRCUIT OF MODULE TO SWITCH POWER SOURCE (ACCESSORY CIRCUIT). MODELS 2007-2013 K2, K3. *PE

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—
2012Viewing280—
2011090—
2010170—
2009040—
2008060—
2007040—
2006040—
2005140—
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.