RoadVitals

1997 Spartan Low Profile Gladiator

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
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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.
3
Latest Nov 6, 1998
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.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Spartan Low Profile Gladiator. 3 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.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

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
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
98V109000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

May 20, 1998
7 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCK CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH TELMA RETARDER AND WABCO VERSION 'D' ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ABS TEST MODE WIRING WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED THROUGH THE CONSOLE RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO READ AND CLEAR THE BLINK CODES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.
The risk: THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO READ OR CLEAR THESE CODES FROM THE CONSOLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM A WIRING CHANGE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE.
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
98V077000

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Apr 24, 1998
477 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS WITH OCCUPANT SIDE ENTRY DOORS. A DIFFICULTY IN LATCHING THE SIDE ENTRY DOORS TO THE FULL CLOSED POSITION, AND/OR, THE DOORS MAY RELEASE TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION. ALSO LOOSE RIVETS CAN CAUSE THE LATCH CONTROL MECHANISM TO BIND NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO LATCH PROPERLY WHEN SHUT.
The risk: THE CAB DOOR COULD UNLATCH FROM ITS PRIMARY LATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNASSISTED TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE LATCH AND ACTUATOR ON THE DOORS.
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

RSB98V109

SUBJECT REGARDING ABS BLINK CODE FUNCTIONALITY. *YC

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 Low Profile Gladiator by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998010—
1997Viewing030—
1996020—
1995010—
1994010—

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.