2008 Spartan MM: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-08-15 (August 15, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, THERE MAY BE A LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BUS BAR AND A GRID PAD DUE TO THE PINS BEING SLIGHTLY SMALLER DIAMETERS AFTER ASSEMBLY. ELECTRICAL POWER MAY BE LOST TO COMPONENTS OF THE MAJOR CHASSIS OPERATING SYSTEMS (ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STARTING, COOLING) CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN AND/OR NOT BE CAPABLE OF POWERING UP.

Consequence: EACH VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS COULD OCCUR: LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STARTING AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS, OPERATION OF THE RIGHT CHASSIS STOP/TURN SIGNAL AND RIGHT TRAILER STOP/TURN SIGNAL, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, AUXILIARY BRAKE SYSTEM, THE HEATER ELEMENTS IN THE AIR DRYER, AND THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE WATER-IN-FUEL SEPARATOR.

Remedy: THE DVEC BUSSMANN BOX WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400.

Reported: 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)

SPARTAN CHASSIS IS RECALLING 213 MY 2007-2008 MM, AND MY 2008 K2, K3, AND SU MOTOR HOME CHASSIS. CERTAIN CHASSIS FASTENERS MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN POOR HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE, LOSS OF STEERING, AND/OR REDUCED LEVEL OF SUSPENSION PERFORMANCE.

Consequence: LOSS OF STEERING WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FASTENERS AS NEEDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-4277.

Reported: 2008-09-25 (September 25, 2008)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING 9 MY 2007-2008 FUR FIRE TRUCK CAB/CHASSIS AND MY 2008 MM MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND GLD FIRE TRUCK CAB/CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH C7 OR C9 CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP OUTLET CHECK PLUG MAY BE CRACKED WHICH COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY AND LEAK.

Consequence: THE FUEL PUMP PLUG MAY CRACK CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: SPARTAN IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR (PLEASE SEE 08E042). CATERPILLAR WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP PLUG FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT-1-800-447-4986 OR SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-4277.

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: 2009-05-28 (May 28, 2009)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING 484 MODEL YEARS 2008-2010 ADV, BEY, FUR, GLC, GLD, K2, K3, MG, MM, MTR, AND NVS FIRE TRUCK, AMBULANCE, AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 1 AND DECEMBER 16, 2008 EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN HALDEX QUICK RELEASE VALVES (QRV). THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM INSIDE THE QRV MAY EXPERIENCE DELAMINATION RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF AIR PRESSURE LEAKAGE PAST AND/OR THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM, OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUBBLE IN THE DIAPHRAGM WHICH MAY TRAP AIR PRESSURE IN THE VALVE AND NOT ALLOW THE SERVICE BRAKES TO RELEASE.

Consequence: MALFUNCTION OF THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: EACH VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY PLAN AND NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THEIR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OR SPARTAN CHASSIS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-543-4277.

Reported: 2009-12-16 (December 16, 2009)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 MM, K2, AND K3 MOTORHOME CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 27, 2007 AND AUGUST 11, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH PNEUMATIC AND HYDRAULIC ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLIES P/NOS. 6562618, 6565118, 77025-001, 77025-002, 77025-501, 77050-004, SUPPLIED BY KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE. SOME ASSEMBLIES COULD CONTAIN A DRIVE PIN THAT IS BELOW SPECIFICATION AND MAY BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE BRAKE ARM CAUSING SEPARATION OR LOOSENING OF THE PEDAL FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IF THE DRIVE PIN BECOMES DISENGAGED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, IT COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE BRAKING FUNCTION AND/OR CAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL FUNCTION. EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SPARTAN IS WORKING WITH KONGSBERG AND THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO REMEDY THESE MOTORHOMES. PLEASE SEE RECALL 09E-064. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY SPARTAN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-543-4277 - OPTION 1.

Reported: 2010-06-28 (June 28, 2010)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 RECREATION VEHICLE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 17, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 15, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH TRW IGEN3 INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMNS. THE WELD AROUND THE IGEN3 STEERING SHAFT TUBE THAT SECURES THE SPLINE TUBE TO THE INTERMEDIATE TUBE MAY BE MISLOCATED (I.E., NOT FULLY OVER THE SEAM CREATED WHEN THE TUBES ARE PRESSED TOGETHER.)

Consequence: MISLOCATED WELDS MAY RESULT IN TORSIONAL AND AXIAL STRENGTH FALLING BELOW ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-5008 - OPTION 5.

Reported: 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)

Spartan is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 K2 and MM motor home chassis, equipped with a Hendrickson independent front suspension. The front brake chambers may contact the upper control arm of the independent front suspension. Continued contact may result in damage sufficient enough to inhibit the full release of the brakes. If the brakes do not fully release, as they drag, heat could be generated causing the brakes to engage even further.

Consequence: As the brakes self-engage, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan chassis will notify owners, and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on Decenber 5, 2012. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-800-543-4277 Option 1.

Reported: 2013-05-08 (May 8, 2013)

Spartan Motors Chassis (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 K2, and K3 and 2006-2010 MM motorhome chassis manufactured July 20, 2005, through December 17, 2010. The steering gear mounting brackets may crack and detach resulting in a loss of steering.

Consequence: A loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners. Starting in mid-June 2013, dealers will install a replacement bracket or a reinforcement to the existing bracket. Until the remedy is available, owners may have their vehicle inspected at any Spartan service center. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Notices were mailed to owners on June 24, 2013. Owners can contact Spartan at 1-855-589-9836.

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

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 MM and K2 motorhome chassis manufactured March 07, 2006, to June 22, 2006. The affected vehicles have tag axles with wheel bearings that may be adjusted too tight, resulting in their overheating during use.

Consequence: If the wheel bearings overheat, there is an increased risk of a wheel end fire.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will adjust the wheel bearing load, replacing the bearings as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-800-582-3454. Spartan's number for this recall is 14015.

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: 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)

Spartan Motors (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Spartan K3 and MM motorhome chassis manufactured September 21, 2006, to March 23, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the flexible exhaust tube may tear allowing hot exhaust to blow against other components or materials.

Consequence: If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Spartan will notify the motorhome manufacturers that purchased the affected chassis, and Spartan dealers will inspect the alignment of the tubes, correcting them and replacing any that are torn. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 16014. Note: This recall supersedes 15V-554.