Model year record

1997 SPARTAN Metro Star

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V118000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
Vehicles affected
1,753
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-12
Owners notified
1999-11-29

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THESE FIRE TRUCKS ARE ALL 4-DOOR MODELS WHICH CONTAIN DUAL, FORWARD FACING PASSENGER SEATS. THE HARDWARE UTILIZED TO MOUNT THE SEAT BOX TO THE CAB FLOOR AND TO THE BACKWALL STRUCTURE, AND ALSO TO MOUNT THE TYPE 1 SEAT BELT SYSTEMS, WAS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NOS. 207/210, ""SEATING SYSTEMS" AND "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Safety risk

THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING/RESTRAINING HARDWARE CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL ALLOWING THE SEAT/SEAT BOX ASSEMBLY TO BREAK FREE OF ITS MOUNTING TO THE CAB FLOOR AND/OR BACKWALL WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THOSE SEATS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING FASTENERS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V010000

Structure

Component
Structure
Manufacturer
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
Vehicles affected
3,210
Reported to NHTSA
1999-01-20
Owners notified
1999-06-18

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THE CAB TILT SYSTEM CONTAINS A 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL SOLENOID ASSEMBLY AS AN ACCESSORY TO THE CAB TILT ELECTRIC MOTOR/HYDRAULIC PUMP ASSEMBLY. RAIN, SNOW, SALT SPRAY OR OTHER CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT CAN CORRODE THE SOLENOID OR "BRIDGE" THE ENERGIZING COIL WIRE TERMINAL CAUSING THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO OPERATE UNCONTROLLABLY.

Safety risk

THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO ACTUATE WITHOUT CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HERMETICALLY SEALED SOLENOID ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V286000

Suspension

Component
Suspension
Manufacturer
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
Vehicles affected
39
Reported to NHTSA
1998-11-06
Owners notified
1999-08-16

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. IF THE DRIVER ACCELERATES IN A TURN ABOVE 20 MPH FORWARD SPEED, THE LOCK PIN IS ACTUATED AND CAUSES THE AXLE TO RESIST RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED BECAUSE THE LOCK PIN IS BINDING ON THE CLAMP PLATE SURFACE.

Safety risk

ENGAGING THE LOCK PIN IN THE LCMP PLATE HOLE AT HIGH FORWARD SPEEDS CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE LOCK PIN AND/OR THE CLAMP PLATE HOLE. LANE CHANGES AND OTHER VEHICLE MANEUVERS WILL GREATLY INCREASE CONTACT FREQUENCY AND CAUSES WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAG AXLES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V109000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Manufacturer
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
Vehicles affected
7
Reported to NHTSA
1998-05-20
Owners notified
1998-10-07

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCK CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH TELMA RETARDER AND WABCO VERSION 'D' ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ABS TEST MODE WIRING WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED THROUGH THE CONSOLE RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO READ AND CLEAR THE BLINK CODES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.

Safety risk

THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO READ OR CLEAR THESE CODES FROM THE CONSOLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL PERFORM A WIRING CHANGE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V077000

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch

Component
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
Manufacturer
SPARTAN MOTORS, INC.
Vehicles affected
477
Reported to NHTSA
1998-04-24
Owners notified
1998-05-19

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS WITH OCCUPANT SIDE ENTRY DOORS. A DIFFICULTY IN LATCHING THE SIDE ENTRY DOORS TO THE FULL CLOSED POSITION, AND/OR, THE DOORS MAY RELEASE TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION. ALSO LOOSE RIVETS CAN CAUSE THE LATCH CONTROL MECHANISM TO BIND NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO LATCH PROPERLY WHEN SHUT.

Safety risk

THE CAB DOOR COULD UNLATCH FROM ITS PRIMARY LATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNASSISTED TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE LATCH AND ACTUATOR ON THE DOORS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.