- The problem
- 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."
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the seat box mounting fasteners.
Vehicle safety record
1990 Spartan Gladiator Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1990 Spartan Gladiator have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in May 1999 for the anchorage.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical Gladiator year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1990 Spartan Gladiator recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This could cause the cab tilt system to actuate without control, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a hermetically sealed solenoid assembly.
- The problem
- The electrical harness power distribution center was mounted behind the kick panel in the step well area of the truck, and the unsealed connectors, if exposed to water, could result in stray voltage, shorting, or corrosion.
- The risk
- If the unsealed connectors experience a condition that allowed moisture to enter, the engine can experience electronic throttle control problems. The foot operated throttle would not be able to control the electronic-governed engine speed, increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a new electrical harness with sealed connectors and relocating the power distribution center.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1990 Spartan Gladiator yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Spartan Gladiator: every year compared
All Gladiator yearsQuestions about the 1990 Spartan Gladiator
Does the 1990 Spartan Gladiator have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 1990 Spartan Gladiator: anchorage (May 1999); structure (January 1999); wiring (March 1996). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1990 Spartan Gladiator had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1990 Spartan Gladiator a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 68 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Spartan Gladiator year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Spartan Gladiator years have the most complaints?
2014 (2), 1996 (1), 2020 (1). See every Spartan Gladiator year compared.
What should I do if my 1990 Spartan Gladiator has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data