Recall 13V481 affects 138 2011, 2013, 2014 Spartan Sb school bus chassis for loose steering-wheel nuts. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
Spartan is recalling 138 2011, 2013, and 2014 Sb school bus chassis because the nut securing the steering wheel was not tightened enough. If that nut loosens, the steering wheel can come loose and cause loss of vehicle control, raising crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The steering wheel on the 2011, 2013, 2014 Spartan Sb school bus chassis is the driver's direct control for steering input. It mounts to the steering column with a retaining nut, which clamps the wheel firmly to the column shaft so turning the wheel turns the steering gear as intended.
On affected chassis, that steering wheel nut was not tightened enough during assembly. A loose nut lets the wheel move on the column instead of staying locked in place. If the connection loosens further, the driver has less precise steering control because the wheel is no longer held firmly against the column.
There is no warning sign before failure. If the wheel feels loose, shifts on the column, or does not respond normally when turned, stop using the bus and have Spartan service inspect the steering wheel connection.
Who's affected?
Affected Sb model years are nonconsecutive: 2011, 2013, and 2014.
| 2014 Spartan Sb | steering wheel |
|---|---|
| 2011 Spartan Sb | steering wheel |
| 2013 Spartan Sb | steering wheel |
| Units affected | 138 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
A loose steering wheel nut can let the steering wheel come loose. If that happens, the driver loses vehicle control and crash risk increases. Schedule the recall repair soon, and stop driving if the wheel feels loose or steering feels abnormal. Repair will be free at any franchised Spartan dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011, 2013, 2014 Spartan Sb is included in this recall.
- Watch for the Spartan owner notice if you have not received it; owner notification began on November 4, 2013.
- Call Spartan at 1-517-543-6400 with questions and reference recall number 13V481 when you call.
- Ask a franchised Spartan dealer about the steering wheel nut torque check that fixes the loose steering wheel nut.
- Avoid driving the bus if the steering wheel feels loose, and arrange service before returning it to regular use.
What happens at the repair
The known dealer work is straightforward: a Spartan technician verifies the steering wheel nut torque and tightens it to the correct specification if needed. Because this record does not list the remedy as available, do not assume the final dealer repair can be scheduled from this section alone. Once Spartan opens the dealer repair for your vehicle, the recall work is free. The issue involves the nut that secures the steering wheel, so the service desk should route the visit to a technician who can inspect steering wheel attachment hardware.
Timeline
| September 30, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 4, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V481?
Recall 13V481 covers 138 2011, 2013, and 2014 Spartan Sb school bus chassis with a steering wheel nut that was not tightened enough. If the nut loosens, the steering wheel can come loose and cause loss of vehicle control. Spartan dealers verify the steering wheel nut torque.
What should I do if my 2011, 2013, 2014 Spartan Sb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific chassis is included in recall 13V481. If it is, contact a Spartan dealer to schedule the steering wheel nut torque verification. Reference recall 13V481 and Spartan campaign number 13023 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be completed at no cost. For recall 13V481, Spartan dealers verify the steering wheel nut torque. You can also contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400 with the recall number and Spartan campaign number 13023.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of vehicle control. The steering wheel nut was not tightened enough, and a loose nut can let the steering wheel come loose while the bus is in use. That increases crash risk, so confirm the VIN and schedule the dealer torque check.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V481000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan customer service | 1-517-543-6400 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V481 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V481000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →