Recall 18V691 covers 923 2001-2019 Spartan Metrostar and Gladiator emergency vehicles with incorrect EMS cabinet fasteners. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
Spartan is recalling 923 2001-2019 Metrostar and Gladiator emergency vehicles because EMS cabinet mounting fasteners have a sizing defect that can let the cabinets break free in a crash. Loose cabinets can become projectiles and increase injury risk, and Spartan dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
On 2001-2019 Spartan Metrostar and Gladiator emergency vehicles, the EMS cabinet is the storage cabinet mounted in the rear of the cab for emergency medical equipment. It is supposed to stay fixed to the cab structure during normal driving and during a crash, so the cabinet and stored equipment stay contained.
The problem is in the cabinet mounting hardware. Spartan says the affected cabinets were installed with fasteners that were too small and without the installation instructions used for the updated repair. In a crash, those smaller fasteners can let the cabinet pull away from its mountings and break free inside the cab.
There is no warning sign before failure. The EMS cabinet can come loose without warning, so an included vehicle needs the corrected cabinet fasteners and nutserts installed according to Spartan's repair instructions.
Who's affected?
Spans Metrostar and Gladiator trucks across the 2001-2019 model years, all tied to the same equipment component.
| 2013 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2009 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2018 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2017 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2010 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2009 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2008 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2007 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2006 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2005 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2005 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2016 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2011 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2013 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2006 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2008 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2010 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2002 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2001 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2001 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2016 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2003 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2015 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2012 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2012 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2011 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2014 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2017 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2018 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2002 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2004 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2004 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2003 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2019 Spartan Gladiator | Equipment |
| 2019 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2015 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2014 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| 2007 Spartan Metrostar | Equipment |
| Units affected | 923 |
| 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 this recall applies to your specific truck.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, loose EMS cabinets can break free and become projectiles, increasing injury risk for occupants. There is no warning sign before an EMS cabinet comes loose, so treat the recall as a repair item to schedule soon if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2001-2019 Spartan Metrostar or Gladiator is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Spartan dealer to schedule the free EMS cabinet fastener replacement that secures the cabinets to their mountings.
- Bring the recall notice if Spartan mailed one. Reference recall number 18V691 when you call.
- Call Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 with questions about scheduling or repair status.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Spartan technician replaces the incorrect size mounting fasteners for the Emergency Medical Service cabinets with the correct fasteners. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. This work is meant to keep the EMS cabinets secured to their mountings during a crash. Spartan has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related fastener or cabinet mounting repair before the recall work. Bring repair orders and payment documentation to the service desk and ask how to submit the claim under Spartan's plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 3, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 4, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| October 4, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 31, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 31, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V691?
Recall 18V691 covers 923 2001-2019 Spartan Metrostar and Gladiator emergency vehicles with EMS cabinet mounting fasteners that are the wrong size. In a crash, loose cabinets can break free and become projectiles, increasing injury risk. Spartan dealers replace the fasteners for free.
What should I do if my 2001-2019 Spartan Metrostar or Gladiator is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V691. If it is, contact a franchised Spartan dealer to schedule replacement of the EMS cabinet mounting fasteners. Reference recall number 18V691 and Spartan recall 18030 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Spartan dealers will replace the incorrect EMS cabinet fasteners with the correct fasteners free of charge at a franchised Spartan dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loose EMS cabinets inside the emergency vehicle during a crash. If the cabinet fasteners fail to hold, the cabinets can break free from their mountings and become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury to people inside the vehicle.
What if I bought this Spartan emergency vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN, then contact a franchised Spartan dealer or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 with recall number 18V691 and Spartan recall 18030.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V691000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan customer service | 1-800-543-5008 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V691 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V691000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →