- The problem
- 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 Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Spartan Gladiator Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2004 Spartan Gladiator have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in September 2019 for the reservoir / tank.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Gladiator year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2004 Spartan Gladiator recalls 8
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
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2016 Emergency Response Gladiator Tractor Drawn Aerial vehicles. Cracks may develop and extend into the vertical portions of the tiller frame, resulting in instability of the aerial device.
- The risk
- If the aerial device becomes unstable, the device may fall, increasing the risk of an injury.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct any cracking, and add reinforcements to prevent any possible future cracking, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19007.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If the EMS cabinets become loose during a crash, the cabinets may become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 become disconnected between the lubrication control module and the air reservoir, a loss of air to the air brake system could occur. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- The risk
- A loss of air to the air brake system could increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Spartan Emergency Response Gladiator vehicles equipped with Timoney Independent Front Suspensions. Inconsistent machining may result in fatigue cracks developing over time in the front axle spindles, causing failure of the spindle and the possible separation of a front wheel from the vehicle.
- The risk
- A wheel separation from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle spindle, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18012.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) certain model year 2004-2010 Emergency Response Gladiator tractor drawn aerial fire apparatus vehicles manufactured November 18, 2004, to July 26, 2010. The tiller frame of the affected vehicles may crack near the outriggers.
- The risk
- If the tiller frame fully cracks, the vehicle may be unstable, increasing the risk of injury to someone on the ladder.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install reinforcements plates, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2004-2016 Gladiator tractor-drawn aerial emergency vehicles manufactured September 12, 2004, to September 30, 2015. The air brakes on these vehicles may have excessive actuation and release timing, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- The risk
- If a longer distance is needed to stop the vehicle there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles with a new 3/8" control line, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16017.
- The problem
- 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 requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
Be the first Gladiator owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2004 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 2004 Spartan Gladiator
Does the 2004 Spartan Gladiator have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2004 Spartan Gladiator: reservoir / tank (September 2019); equipment (April 2019); equipment (October 2018); reservoir / tank (May 2018) and more. 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 2004 Spartan Gladiator had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2004 Spartan Gladiator a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 33 out of 100 (grade D: more 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 2004 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