2005 Spartan K3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 100.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 100.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
2007: 1
Pattern summary
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10202459 · 2007-09-10 (September 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202459 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V283000 · Steering:Linkages
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗06V413000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)
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.
Consequence: AN OIL LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE THAT MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗09V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)
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.
Consequence: AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V549000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗