Recall 15V603 affects 14 2014 Spartan Metrostar emergency vehicles because the K-Gearbox can shift to neutral. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
Spartan is recalling 14 2014 Metrostar emergency vehicles under recall 15V603 because the Hale Products K-Gearbox transmission can unexpectedly shift to neutral while traveling to or from a fire. Loss of drive can delay firefighting response and increase the risk of a crash; Spartan dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The 2014 Spartan Metrostar emergency vehicles in this recall are equipped with a Hale Products fire pump and K-Gearbox. The fire pump moves water for firefighting, and the K-Gearbox is the transmission assembly that connects and controls the pump drive. It is supposed to stay in the selected position while the vehicle is traveling to or from a fire.
In affected vehicles, wear in the tooling used to make the gearbox allowed extra material to enter the gearbox housing. That material can interfere with the gearbox mechanism. When that happens, the K-Gearbox transmission can shift into neutral while the emergency vehicle is on the road, leaving the pump drive system out of its intended gear position.
There is no warning sign before failure. The shift to neutral can happen without a prior noise, light, or other notice to the driver or crew.
Who's affected?
| 2014 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 14 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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 shift to neutral can delay a fire response and leave the vehicle without drive power. That loss of drive raises crash risk, and the shift can happen without warning. If it occurs, stop using the truck and arrange dealer service. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Spartan Metrostar is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Spartan dealer to schedule the free K-Gearbox repair that addresses the fire-pump transmission shifting to neutral.
- Bring the recall notice if Spartan mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V603 when you call.
- Use backup response planning until the repair is complete, because loss of drive can delay firefighting and increase crash risk.
- Call Spartan customer service at 1-800-867-6478 with questions about scheduling or repair status.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Spartan technician removes the Hale Products K-Gearbox transmission from the fire pump system and sends the gearbox to Hale for repair. After Hale fixes the unit, the technician reinstalls it and checks the installation before the vehicle returns to service. Parts and labor are covered under the recall, so the repair is free of charge. Ask the service desk how they will handle vehicle downtime while the gearbox is away for repair.
Timeline
| September 25, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| September 25, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 28, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| October 15, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 3, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V603?
Recall 15V603 covers 14 2014 Spartan Metrostar emergency vehicles equipped with a fire pump and a Hale Products K-Gearbox. The gearbox transmission can unexpectedly shift to neutral while traveling to or from a fire. Spartan dealers will remove, repair, and reinstall the gearbox for free.
What should I do if my 2014 Spartan Metrostar is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific emergency vehicle is included in recall 15V603. If it is, contact a franchised Spartan dealer or Spartan customer service at 1-800-867-6478 to arrange the K-Gearbox repair. Reference Spartan recall number 15021 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Spartan says dealers will remove the gearbox, send it to Hale for repairs, and reinstall it once fixed. Parts and labor are covered for affected vehicles.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of drive if the K-Gearbox transmission unexpectedly shifts to neutral. On the way to a fire, that delay can hinder firefighting efforts. The loss of drive also increases crash risk, so confirm the VIN and arrange the free dealer repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V603000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan customer service | 1-800-867-6478 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V603 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V603000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →