- The problem
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2010-2014 K2 and K3 motor home chassis and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs. A component within the starter motor may break, potentially resulting in the starter motor overheating or drawing excessive current.
- The risk
- A starter motor that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify the purchasers of the chassis and dealers will replace the starters, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17012.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Spartan K3 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2012 Spartan K3 with NHTSA, most often about the brakes (1) and the steering (1). It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in May 2017 for the starter assembly. For comparison, the 2011 has 0 and the 2013 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical K3 year, for its age
#303 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Spartan K3 problems
Share of all 2 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Spartan K3 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 2011-2017 Gladiator, 2016-2017 MetroStar, 2012-2018 K2, 2011-2018 K3, 2017-2018 K4, and 2011-2017 MM vehicles. The ball joints on the independent front suspension (IFS) modules can loosen and separate, leading to a partial loss of steering.
- The risk
- A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will remove, clean, apply thread locker, and reinstall the properly torqued ball joint, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17004.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2010-2017 Emergency Response K3, Metrostar, and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs and motor home chassis manufactured April 12, 2010, to August 31, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power steering pump that may have an occasional loss of output power resulting in reduced or intermittent loss of power steering assist.
- The risk
- An intermittent loss of power steering assist could increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pumps, free of charge. The recall began on October 11, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16022.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Spartan K3 and MM motorhome chassis manufactured September 21, 2006, to March 23, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the flexible exhaust tube may tear allowing hot exhaust to blow against other components or materials.
- The risk
- If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify the motorhome manufacturers that purchased the affected chassis, and Spartan dealers will inspect the alignment of the tubes, correcting them and replacing any that are torn. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 16014. Note: This recall supersedes 15V-554.
- The problem
- Spartan Motor Chassis, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 MM, 2011-2014 K2, and 2010-2012 K3 motor home chassis. Due to contact with the steering relay rod, the ABS modulator valve may fracture resulting in air not being applied to the affected wheel end.
- The risk
- This may increase stopping distance of the vehicle or cause the vehicle to pull to one side. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners and dealers will reorient the ABS modulator valve and install spacers for additional clearance, free of charge. The recall began on September 17, 2013. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. spartan's recall campaign number is 12008.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 K2, K3, and MM motor homes manufactured March 2, 2012, through July 30, 2012 and equipped with a 1660 independent front suspension supplied by Reyco Granning. The motor homes may have incorrect wheel bearings installed in the front suspension.
- The risk
- Incorrect wheel bearings may cause the vehicle to pull to one side and with continued use, there is a risk of a fire starting at the wheel.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners and dealers will inspect the bearings and replace them, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2013. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's campaign number is 13-009.
- The problem
- Spartan is recalling certain model year 2010, 2011, and 2012 recreational vehicles, models mm, k2, k3, bus, furion, gladiator, and metro star, manufactured from september 29, 2010, through june 20, 2011, equipped with a cummins isb, isc, isl, or isx diesel engine. The v-band clamp assembly, part numbers q187684, q187685, and q187686, used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the diesel oxidation catalyst (doc)/diesel particulate filter (dpf) include a t-bolt which can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. A fracture or failure of the t-bolt may cause the clamp to loosen and the inlet or outlet sections attached to the doc/dpf housing to disconnect.
- The risk
- If the inlet or outlet sections disconnect, hot exhaust gases can vent prior to exiting the tailpipe, creating the risk of combustion and a fire. If both clamps fail, there is a risk in some applications that the doc/dpf housing may detach completely, creating a road hazard.
- The fix
- Spartan is working with cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized cummins dealers free of charge. The safety recall began on october 10, 2011. Owners may contact cummins at 1-812-377-5000 or spartan at 1-800-543-5008 - option 5.
- The problem
- Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. (Spartan Chassis) is recalling certain 2011 SU and 2011 through 2012 model year MM, K2, and K3 recreational vehicle chassis manufactured from January 28, 2011, through June 28, 2011, equipped with air gauges supplied by Ametek. An incorrect value may have been used in the formula for calculating the sweep angle of the dial. This may have resulted in the accuracy of the gauge varying as much as eleven percent from the cutout pressure as opposed to the maximum allowable of +/- seven percent. Consequently, these chassis fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- The risk
- In a condition where constant braking may be necessary, the air systems may deplete sooner than expected. This could cause the application of the spring brake without warning and may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Spartan Chassis will notify owners and replace the affected guages with compliant ones, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2013. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-800-543-4277 - Option 1. Spartan's campagn number is 11018.
What owners say
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2 complaints about the 2012 Spartan K3
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 spartan motors motor home (na). The contact stated that the power steering failed. The contact took the vehicle to the spartan manufacturer and the power steering unit, power steering, and power steering line were repaired. The repairs were performed three times; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The contact stated that the failures were related to nhtsa campaign number: 16v676000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 newmar king aire rv equipped with a 2012 spartan chassis. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the engine compressor brake was activated and then the rear brake lights began to illuminate continuously. The failure recurred whenever the compressor brake switch was activated, causing the trailer brakes to overheat. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000. ...Updated 07-10-13 *bf updated 07/16/2013*js
Spartan K3: every year compared
All K3 yearsQuestions about the 2012 Spartan K3
Does the 2012 Spartan K3 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2012 Spartan K3: starter assembly (May 2017); control arm (March 2017); pump (September 2016); exhaust system (May 2016) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Spartan K3?
How many complaints has the 2012 Spartan K3 had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on June 10, 2013 and the latest on June 13, 2017. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Spartan K3 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 42 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Spartan K3 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 K3 years have the most complaints?
2012 (2), 2023 (2), 2005 (1). See every Spartan K3 year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Spartan K3 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