2008 Spartan Metrostar Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2008 Spartan Metrostar has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,988 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 19V828000 2019-11-19 94 affected
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.

Consequence

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.

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…

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 19V674000 2019-09-23 1,746 affected
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…

Consequence

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.

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.

EQUIPMENT 18V691000 2018-10-03 923 affected
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.

Consequence

If the EMS cabinets become loose during a crash, the cabinets may become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury.

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 18V350000 2018-05-29 309 affected
Defect

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2001-2018 Spartan Gladiator, Diamond, MetroStar, and Advantage emergency response vehicles. The affected vehicles may not be equipped with a pressure protection valve installed between the air reservoir and the lubrication control module. If the air line were to…

Consequence

A loss of air to the air brake system could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and install a pressure protection valve, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18017.

PARKING BRAKE 17V294000 2017-05-01 18 affected
Defect

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency response vehicles equipped with a supplemental park brake system (SPBS). The directions to activate the SPBS incorrectly state to "Pull" the actuation knob, when it should say "Push."

Consequence

If the operator follows the incorrect directions and believes that the supplemental front park brake is applied when it is not, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Spartan will notify owners and supply a new actuator control knob with the correct directions, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 17009.

VISIBILITY 15V547000 2015-09-01 322 affected
Defect

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, to August 6, 2010. The affected vehicles have mirror lenses that may fall off due to vibration.

Consequence

If the mirror lens comes loose and and falls out, the driver's ability to see objects in the mirror would be impaired, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan cutomer service at 1-800-582-3454. Spartan's number for this recall is 15016.

TIRES 15V448000 2015-07-15 212 affected
Defect

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency response vehicles manufactured January 18, 2007 to February 9, 2015. The front wheels of the affected vehicles have valve stems that may rub against the brake caliper.

Consequence

If the valve stems rub against the brake caliper, a hole may develop causing the tire to deflate suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front wheel valve stems and replace any that have wear marks, free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 15012.

POWER TRAIN 14V623000 2014-10-06 389 affected
Defect

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured November 29, 2005, to June 19, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the transmission fluid cooler may fail, allowing the engine coolant to mix with the transmission fluid.

Consequence

If the engine coolant mixes with the transmission fluid, the transmission may not shift properly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Spartan will notify owners and dealers will install a new transmission fluid cooler, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on November 25, 2014 and will also be mailed a second letter when parts are available. Parts should be available in mid to late January…

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 11V500000 2011-10-13 799 affected
Defect

SPARTAN CHASSIS (SPARTAN), IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 DIAMOND, MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 FURION ALONG WITH MODEL YEAR 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010 FURION R/T, MODEL YEAR 2007-2012 GLADIATOR, MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 METROSTAR AND MODEL YEAR 2012 SPARTAN FORCE EMERGENCY RESCUE TRANSPORT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC…

Consequence

THIS MIGHT CAUSE THE ESC TO PERCEIVE AN OVER STEERING SITUATION AND THEREFORE APPLY THE FRONT AXLE OUTER WHEEL SERVICE BRAKE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PERCEIVED TO BE STABLE BY THE ESC. THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-5008 OPTION 5.

SUSPENSION 10V210000 2010-05-14 58 affected
Defect

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2009 GLADIATOR, METROSTAR, ADVANTAGE, AND DIAMOND FIRE APPARATUS CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2007 THROUGH APRIL 15, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSIONS SUPPLIED BY RIDEWELL CORPORATION. BELL CRANK SUPPORT BRACKETS INSTALLED ON THE SUSPENSION…

Consequence

A COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BELL CRANK SUPPORT BRACKET(S) MAY CAUSE STEERING IMPAIRMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 26, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-4277 - OPTION 1.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 10V209000 2010-05-14 468 affected
Defect

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 GLADIATOR, METROSTAR, FURION, AND DIAMOND FIRE APPARATUS AND AMBULANCE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 29, 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 25, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS (ESC). IN CERTAIN CASES, THE ESC MAY INADVERTENTLY…

Consequence

INADVERTENT BRAKE APPLICATION TO A SELECTED WHEEL MAY CAUSE THE DRIVE TO TRY AND OVER CORRECT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS WILL PERFORM THE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-5008, OPTION 5.

SEAT BELTS 10V052000 2010-02-05 650 affected
Defect

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 ADVANTAGE, BARRON, GLADIATOR, METROSTAR, MOUNTAIN STAR, AND TR-1 FIRE APPARATUS CHASSIS CABS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 27, 2003 AND NOVEMBER 17, 2009 AND BELTS SOLD TO VARIOUS VEHICLE ALTERS. CERTAIN SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE…

Consequence

THE SEAT BELT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CAB DURING A VEHICLE CRASH AND FAIL TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT. THIS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy

SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-4277 - Option 1.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints2

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2008-10-01

“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…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2008-10-01
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 Spartan Metrostar as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.