2017 Spartan K3: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2017 Gladiator and K3 motorhome chassis manufactured April 18, 2016, through June 7, 2016 and equipped with Cummins ISX15 engines using certain engine control modules (ECM). These ECM's may experience an internal electrical short that can cause a fuse to blow, resulting in an unexpected engine stall without the ability to restart the engine.

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and Cummins dealers will replace the defective ECM with a remedy part, free of charge. The recall began on June 9, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16016.

Reported: 2016-09-19 (September 19, 2016)

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.

Consequence: An intermittent loss of power steering assist could increase the risk of a crash.

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.

Reported: 2016-10-26 (October 26, 2016)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2017 Spartan Specialty Vehicle K2 and K3 vehicles manufactured March 24, 2016, to August 31, 2016. The throttle circuit wires on the affected vehicles may not have been be twisted to cancel out electromagnetic interference, and as a result, interference may cause the throttle signal to be higher or lower than intended.

Consequence: Unintended deceleration or acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install an overlay harness with twisted wires, free of charge. The recall began on November 3, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5277. Spartan's number for this recall is 16025.

Reported: 2017-03-13 (March 13, 2017)

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.

Consequence: A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Reported: 2017-06-27 (June 27, 2017)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2017-2018 K3 and K4 motor home chassis and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs equipped with Cummins ISX 15L engines. These engines have a fuel pump whose drive gear could possibly slip on its drive shaft, causing a fuel pump function loss, resulting in an engine stall.

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify the final stage manufacturers that used these chassis or the vehicle purchaser, and Cummins dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began on July 12, 2017. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 17015.

Reported: 2018-06-07 (June 7, 2018)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Spartan Specialty Vehicles K2 and K3 motorhome chassis. The tag axle tire may become damaged due to contact with the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) fill mounting bracket.

Consequence: The damaged tag axle tire may fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan has notified owners, and dealers will modify the DEF fill mounting bracket to give adequate clearance to the tag axle tire, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 1806.

Reported: 2021-05-05 (May 5, 2021)

Shyft Group is recalling certain 2017-2022 Spartan RV Chassis K2 and K3 vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 25, 2021. Owners may contact Shyft Group customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Shyft Group's number for this recall is 21-11.