Recall 10V181 affects 167 2007-2009 Spartan Gladiator fire apparatus vehicles for unexpected engine shutdown. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
Spartan is recalling 167 2007-2009 Gladiator fire apparatus vehicles under recall 10V181 because the Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine can shut down when a diesel particulate filter over-temperature condition is detected. An unexpected shutdown can hamper rescue operations and place the public at risk; the Spartan dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The engine in the 2007-2009 Spartan Gladiator fire apparatus is the power source that keeps the vehicle moving and supports the cooling system that controls engine heat. These vehicles were built with Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines, and the recall centers on how the engine responds when the diesel particulate filter detects an over temperature condition.
The diesel particulate filter is part of the exhaust system. It traps soot from diesel exhaust and manages high heat during filter cleaning. On affected Gladiator vehicles, an over temperature signal from that filter can trigger an unexpected engine shutdown. That shutdown cuts engine power instead of keeping the apparatus running while the driver brings it to a controlled stop.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first thing an operator notices can be the engine shutting down unexpectedly after the filter detects the high temperature condition.
Who's affected?
The same engine and engine cooling issue appears across the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Gladiator model years.
| 2007 Spartan Gladiator | Engine and engine cooling |
|---|---|
| 2008 Spartan Gladiator | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Spartan Gladiator | Engine and engine cooling |
| Units affected | 167 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unexpected engine shutdown in an emergency vehicle can hamper rescue operations and place the public at risk. Keep the vehicle in service only with dispatch and maintenance staff aware, and schedule the recall work soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Spartan dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2009 Spartan Gladiator is included in this recall.
- Watch for Spartan's owner notice before arranging recall service, since the remedy status is not listed as available in the source data.
- Reference recall number 10V181 when you call about the engine-control reprogramming that changes the diesel particulate filter over-temperature response from engine shutdown to a malfunction indicator light.
- Keep the fire apparatus out of emergency response service until Spartan or Detroit Diesel confirms the recall repair path for your VIN.
- Bring any recall notice, fleet maintenance records, and engine information when the vehicle goes in for the free repair.
What happens at the repair
Spartan's repair path is to reprogram the engine control logic. At the dealer, a Spartan technician updates the control logic so a diesel particulate filter over temperature condition turns on the malfunction indicator light without requesting an engine shutdown. The dealer repair will be free once available. The notice also identifies Detroit Diesel as part of the repair path, so ask the Spartan service desk how the programming update is handled for your vehicle.
Timeline
| May 3, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 19, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V181?
Recall 10V181 covers 167 2007-2009 Spartan Gladiator fire apparatus vehicles with Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines. The engine can shut down when a diesel particulate filter over-temperature condition is detected. Detroit Diesel will reprogram the engine control logic for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2009 Spartan Gladiator is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific fire apparatus is included in recall 10V181. If it is, contact a franchised Spartan service location or Detroit Diesel service channel to schedule the engine-control-logic reprogramming. Reference recall number 10V181 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and Spartan's remedy states that Detroit Diesel will repair the vehicles free of charge by reprogramming the engine control logic.
What is the safety risk?
An unexpected engine shutdown during emergency vehicle operation can interrupt rescue response and place the public at risk. Recall 10V181 is tied to Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine control logic during a diesel particulate filter over-temperature condition.
Has the recall repair started?
Yes. Spartan's remedy states that the safety recall began on May 19, 2010. If your VIN is included and the repair was never completed, schedule the engine-control-logic reprogramming with a Spartan or Detroit Diesel service contact.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V181000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V181 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V181000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →