- 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
1997 Spartan Gladiator Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1997 Spartan Gladiator have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in May 1999 for the anchorage.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Gladiator year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1997 Spartan Gladiator recalls 4
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. 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the tag axles on these fire trucks.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- The driver would not be able to read or clear these codes from the console.
- The fix
- Dealers will perform a wiring change in the center console.
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the latch and actuator on the doors.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1997 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 1997 Spartan Gladiator
Does the 1997 Spartan Gladiator have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1997 Spartan Gladiator: anchorage (May 1999); suspension (November 1998); antilock / traction control / electronic limited slip (May 1998); latch (April 1998). 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 1997 Spartan Gladiator had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1997 Spartan Gladiator a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 58 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as 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 1997 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