2005 Spartan K2: complaints, problems and recalls

DURING DRIVING, PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD POPPED LOOSE AT AREA OF UPPER CORNER, EVENTUALLY CRACKING. MANUFACTURER OF MOTOR HOME HAD IT PICKED UP AND RETURNED TO THE FACTORY. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED TOTAL FRONT CAP, KEPT IT OVER 4 MONTHS, HAD IT RETURNED, IMMEDIATELY UPON RETURN, BEFORE, I COULD TAKE ANOTHER TRIP, BOTH FRONT WINDSHIELDS CRACKED AND WERE POPPING OUT. HAD IT REPAIRED AT A RV DEALER THAT THEY APPROVED. TOOK ANOTHER TRIP AND WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE SETTLED AND LEFT A SLIT BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND WINDSHIELD GASKET. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196860 at NHTSA ↗

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SPARTAN K2 RECALLS ON STEERING RELATED ISSUES ON 2005 UNITS.05V283000 AND 07V300000 THESE ARE DEFECTS IN STEERING LINKAGE AND SPACERS THAT CAN CAUSE STEERING FAILURE. I AM TOLD BY SPARTAN THAT MY K2 IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALLS. HOWEVER, MY UNIT HAS HAD A STEERING DEFECT SINCE DAY ONE. WHEN MAKING TURNS THERE IS OFTEN A LOUD BANG SOUNDS LIKE A BALL JOINT IS BAD. THEY FIRST TOLD ME IT WAS THE TIE ROD U BOLTS ON UPSIDE DOWN. CORRECTING DID NOT STOP THE LOUD BANG. THEY THEN TOLD ME IT WAS THE IFS AND THEY REPLACED A BELL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10205340 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SPARTAN K2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE RADIATOR MOUNTED FRAMEWORK HAD BECOME STRUCTURALLY DISCONNECTED, WHICH IMPACTED A LOOSE CONNECTION OF THE SAND BLADE. AS A RESULT, THE SIDE RADIATOR HOUSING WAS FRACTURED, WHICH IMPACTED THE SAND BLADE, HOUSING UNIT, AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S AUTHORIZED FACILITY. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO LEFT MESSAGES WITH THE MANUFACTURER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIDE RADIATOR HOUSING UNIT NEEDED TO BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155568 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES, THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL RETURN SPRINGS MAY RETURN THE PEDAL SHAFT TO THE HOME POSITION WHILE NOT FULLY RETURNING THE POTENTIOMETER KEY TO ITS HOME POSITION.

Consequence: IN A NEUTRAL OR NO LOAD SITUATION: THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IDLE SPEED UNTIL IT REACES FULL GOVERNED RPM. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO ANY GEAR OVER 900 ENGINE RPM. IN GEAR OR UNDER LOAD: THE ENGINE MAY NOT RETURN TO 725 RPM (NORMAL IDLE) WHICH WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL EFFORT BY THE SERVICE BRAKES TO OVERCOME THE ADDITIONAL ENGINE RPM DURING BRAKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 17, 2004, BY PHONE CALLS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Reported: 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NGI AIR PRESSURE GAUGES LOCATED ON THE DASH PANEL IS GIVING A FALSE READING.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE THE PARK BRAKE TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING, THUS THROWING THE PASSENGER FORWARD, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL USE A JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING A 33 OHM RESISTOR WHICH WILL SHIFT THE RESISTANCE CURVE OF THE AIR PRESSURE SENDER TO MATCH THE ALARM POINT OF THE CURRENT GAUGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Reported: 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE I-SHAFT IS THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING GEAR. AT THE NON-WELDED SIDE OF THE I-SHAFT THERE IS A UNIVERSAL JOINT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FORK SHAFT CONNECTION COULD BE LOST.

Consequence: DRIVERS WILL LOSE STEERABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE I-SHAFT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Reported: 2007-07-13 (July 13, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND FIRE TRUCKS, THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A SPACER WITH INCORRECT DIMENSIONS. A SPACER OF INSUFFICIENT HEIGHT ALLOWS FOR EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE RETURN FUNCTION OF THE RECIRCULATION BALLS AND, AS A CONSEQUENCE, THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE CIRCULATORY FUNCTION OF THESE BALLS.

Consequence: IF THE FAILURE MODE IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE, THE FINAL RESULT WILL BE INTERRUPTION IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER BE STEERED AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Reported: 2008-10-28 (October 28, 2008)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING 2,621 MY 2005-2009 K2, MY 2006-2009 MG, AND MY 2007-2009 MM MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH PUTNAM HITCHES. CERTAIN TRAILER HITCHES MAY FRACTURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE TRAILER.

Consequence: SUSPECT HITCHES MAY DEVELOP FRACTURES AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION MAY OCCUR, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PEDESTRIAN HARM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 21, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400.

Reported: 2015-09-01 (September 1, 2015)

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.

Consequence: If the engine area is open and the cooling fan is operating and detaches, someone nearby may be injured.

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.

Reported: 2015-10-08 (October 8, 2015)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 1997-2005 MM and K2 motorhome chassis manufactured January 20, 2003, to May 16, 2005. The affected vehicles have a steering gear mounting bracket that may crack, causing a loss of steering ability.

Consequence: A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear mounting brackets, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 15022.