Recall 18V538 affects 274 2018-2019 Spartan K2 vehicles with park brakes that can let vehicles roll on grades. Free repair at Spartan dealers.
Spartan is recalling 274 2018-2019 K2 vehicles because the park brake system does not meet FMVSS 121 requirements and can allow the vehicle to move while parked on a grade. Unintended movement increases crash risk; Spartan dealers will repair the park brake system free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The parking brake system on the 2018-2019 Spartan K2 chassis is part of the air brake system that keeps the vehicle from rolling after it is parked. On these motor home chassis, brake chambers apply holding force at the wheels so the chassis stays in place when the driver sets the parking brake. That holding force matters most when the vehicle is parked on a grade.
On affected K2 chassis, the parking brake system is not strong enough to meet the grade holding requirement for air brakes. Spartan's testing found that a vehicle with this parking brake setup did not meet the parking brake requirements, and the recalled chassis use the same inadequate configuration. The remedy identifies replacement brake chambers with a 30/30 size and 3 inch stroke, which points to the original brake chamber setup as part of the holding problem.
Vehicle movement can occur without warning. The owner is not given a reliable warning sign before the parked vehicle starts to move.
Who's affected?
The scope spans the 2018 and 2019 K2 model years, with both tied to the brake system.
| 2018 Spartan K2 | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2019 Spartan K2 | brake system |
| Units affected | 274 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A parked motorhome that moves unintentionally on a grade can roll after parking and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before movement starts. Until the repair is complete, choose level parking whenever possible and schedule dealer service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2019 Spartan K2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Spartan dealer to schedule the free brake-chamber installation that helps the park brake hold the motorhome when parked on a grade.
- Bring the recall notice if Spartan mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V538 when you call.
- Avoid parking on grades until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Spartan technician installs new brake chambers covered by recall 18V538. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Spartan has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related brake chamber repair. Bring documentation of the prior repair and ask the service desk to review it under that plan before the work order is closed.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 15, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 22, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 22, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 22, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 11, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V538?
Recall 18V538 covers 274 2018-2019 Spartan K2 chassis with park brake systems that can fail to keep the vehicle from moving unintentionally while parked on a grade. Spartan dealers will install new brake chambers for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2019 Spartan K2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific K2 is included in recall 18V538. If it is, contact a franchised Spartan dealer to schedule the brake chamber installation. Reference recall 18V538 and Spartan recall number 18023 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Spartan dealers will install new brake chambers free of charge, and owners can contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 with repair questions.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unintended vehicle movement while parked on a grade. If the park brake does not hold the K2 in place, the vehicle can move and increase crash risk. Use extra care when parking until the dealer repair is complete.
What if I bought my Spartan K2 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific K2 is included, then call a franchised Spartan dealer and reference recall 18V538.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V538000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan customer service | 1-800-543-5008 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V538 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V538000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →