Recall 16V134 covers 63 2016-2017 Spartan Sb school bus chassis for parking brake cable clip failure. Chock wheels. Free Spartan dealer repair once available.
Spartan is recalling 63 2016-2017 Sb school bus chassis because the metal clip connecting the hand-operated parking brake actuator cable to the intermediate parking brake cable can fail. If that connection fails, the vehicle can unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of injury or a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once Spartan makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The parking brake linkage on 2016-2017 Spartan Sb school bus chassis is a mechanical cable system. The hand operated parking brake actuator pulls a cable, and a metal connecting clip links that actuator cable to the intermediate parking brake cable. That clip is a small part, but it carries the force that lets the driver set the parking brake.
On affected chassis, the connecting clip was improperly heat treated. Heat treating is the process that gives metal the right hardness and strength. When that process is wrong, the clip does not have the strength the parking brake linkage needs, so it can break at the cable connection. If the clip breaks, the hand lever is no longer connected through the linkage as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The clip component can fail without warning, so an owner or service technician should not expect a noise, looseness, or gradual change before the parking brake linkage separates.
Who's affected?
The same parking-brake linkage and cable is listed for both model years.
| 2016 Spartan Sb | Linkage and cable |
|---|---|
| 2017 Spartan Sb | Linkage and cable |
| Units affected | 63 |
| 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 vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A failed parking brake cable connection can let the vehicle roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. The clip component can fail without warning. Chock the wheels while waiting for parts, and schedule the recall work once Spartan has parts ready. Repair will be free at any franchised Spartan dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Spartan Sb is included in this recall.
- Watch for Spartan's owner notice before scheduling the dealer clip installation.
- Chock the wheels whenever the bus is parked until the new parking-brake clips are installed.
- Call Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277 with questions, and reference recall number 16V134 (Spartan recall 16005).
- Schedule the free parking-brake clip installation once Spartan confirms parts are available; the new clips secure the parking-brake cable connection.
What happens at the repair
Once Spartan releases the parts, a Spartan technician will install new clips for the parking brake cable connection between the hand operated actuator cable and the intermediate parking brake cable. The final dealer repair will be free once available. Until then, Spartan advises owners to chock the wheels. Spartan has a general reimbursement plan on file. If you already paid for a related parking brake cable repair before the recall notice, contact Spartan customer service with repair documentation to ask about reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 4, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| March 8, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 18, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 18, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 25, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V134?
Recall 16V134 covers 63 2016-2017 Spartan Sb school bus chassis with a parking brake cable clip that can fail. If the cable connection fails, the vehicle can roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. Spartan dealers will install new clips for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Spartan Sb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific chassis is included in recall 16V134. If it is, contact a franchised Spartan dealer and reference Spartan recall number 16005. Chock the wheels until the dealer confirms the new parking brake clips are installed.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Spartan dealers will install new parking brake cable clips free of charge, including parts and labor, for included 2016-2017 Spartan Sb school bus chassis.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is unintended vehicle movement. If the parking brake cable connection fails, the parking brake cannot hold the chassis as intended, and the vehicle can roll unexpectedly. Until the repair is complete, Spartan advised owners to chock the wheels.
When did recall 16V134 begin?
Spartan began recall 16V134 on March 25, 2016. The source remedy said parts were not available when owners were notified, so confirm repair scheduling with a Spartan dealer or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V134000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan customer service | 1-800-543-4277 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V134 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V134000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - 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 →