RoadVitals

2008 Spartan Metrostar

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 Aug 1, 2011
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.
12
Latest Nov 19, 2019
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 2008 Spartan Metrostar, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) category. 12 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 10 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

  • Powertrain (other)1100.0%

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

12 campaigns cover this model year

View all 12

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
19V828000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

Nov 19, 2019
94 units potentially affected
The defect: Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2005-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Metrostar vehicles equipped with pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain systems. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected.
The risk: Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Marion Body Works will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 22, 2019. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.
Marion Body Works Inc.Manufacturer number 19V-674View on NHTSA.gov
19V674000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

Sep 23, 2019
1,746 units potentially affected
The defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Spartan vehicles equipped with a pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain system. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19017.
Spartan Motors USAManufacturer number 19017View on NHTSA.gov
18V691000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 3, 2018
923 units potentially affected
The defect: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2001-2019 Spartan MetroStar and Gladiator emergency vehicles. The mounting fasteners for the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) cabinets may not be the correct size, allowing the cabinets to break free from their mountings in the event of a crash.
The risk: If the EMS cabinets become loose during a crash, the cabinets may become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect size fasteners with the correct fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18030.
Spartan Motors USAManufacturer number 18030View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 1, 2011

VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (DOES NOT OCCUR FROM A STANDING START); AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN UPON DEPRESSING THROTTLE IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE, THE TRUCK BEGINS A SEVERE HOPPING/JERKING MOTION. SPEED AT WHICH HOPPING/JERKING MOTION OCCURS IS NEAR 35 MILES PER HOUR. INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT DRIVERS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS SOMETIMES ON LEVEL GROUND AND SOMETIMES ON GRADES. HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE RESULT WAS ONLY THAT DRIVERS REQUIRED ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO PREVENT TOE HOPPING. SEVERAL OF THE DRIVERS HAVE DRIVEN SIMILAR SIZE AND WEIGHT TRUCKS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

NHTSA ID
10417419
Incident
Oct 1, 2008
Mileage
5,848 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.

TSB20-210-001

WHEELS

This service bulletin provides instructions for replacing galvanized nuts identified as not meeting proper clamp load.

TSB17-110-001A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

This service bulletin amends the previously reported service bulletin that provides instructions on how to replace the door hinges on affected models of emergency response chassis cabs in the event the as built hinge deforms. The amendment includes instructions on removing certain coatings and provides instruction on certain electrical components.

TSB17-250-005A

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This service bulletin amends a previously submitted service bulletin (TSB17-250-005 - Submitted on 9/1/2017) to include a different bracket used in different cab configurations. The previous service bulletin provided instructions on how to remedy or replace cab lock down mounting bracket fasteners.

TSB18-530-001

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

This service bulletin provides replacement instructions for compartment door switches that may become inoperative.

TSB18-810-001

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides a solution for conditions in the air bag system that cause the "SRS" lamp to illuminate

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 Metrostar by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000—
2022000—
2021000—
2020060—
20190150—
20180140—
20171130—
20160110—
20150190—
20140210—
20130210—
20120150—
20110160—
20100200—
20090150—
2008Viewing1120—
2007070—
2006060—
2005050—
2004040—
2003030—
2002060—
2001040—
2000010—
1999040—
1998040—
1997050—
1996040—
1995040—
1994040—
1993040—
1992030—
1991030—

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.