Recall 20V492 covers 1 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator vehicle with overly bright rear lights. The Code 3 filter kit is free.
Spartan Fire is recalling 1 2018 Gladiator vehicle because its Code 3 rear LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights exceed allowed brightness limits. The excessive light output affects other drivers' vision and increases crash risk; Spartan Fire dealers will correct the lighting issue free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The exterior rear lamp on the 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator combines stop, tail, turn, and reverse lighting in a Code 3 7x9 LED unit. That single lamp assembly tells other drivers when the vehicle is braking, signaling a turn, backing up, or being seen from the rear in low light. It has to be bright enough to be visible without exceeding the allowed light output.
On the recalled Gladiator, the lamp manufacturer reported that the LED lamp does not meet the required lighting standard. The problem is not that the lamp goes dark. It can produce too much light, above the maximum permitted intensity, which can interfere with another driver's vision. A filter kit changes the lamp output so it stays within the permitted intensity range.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner is not expected to notice a dashboard message or a visible lamp defect before the issue is found through the recall repair.
Who's affected?
| 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 1 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator truck is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Excessive light brightness can affect other drivers' vision and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign listed before another driver is affected, so schedule the filter kit repair promptly and avoid using lights that seem unusually bright. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan Fire dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator is included in this recall.
- Contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-866-582-2376 to obtain the free Code 3 filter kit (part number CZ0199) for the too-bright rear lights.
- Reference recall number 20V492 and Spartan Fire recall 20-10 when you call.
- Have the filter kit installed before regular road use so the rear lights no longer exceed the light-output limit.
- Bring the owner notice if Spartan Fire mailed one, or keep it with your service records after the repair.
What happens at the repair
Spartan Fire will instruct the owner to contact Code 3 for filter kit part number CZ0199, at no cost. The kit addresses the Code 3 7x9 LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights that exceed the allowed light output. Parts are covered under the recall, and the repair path is open now. If you already paid to fix this lighting issue, contact Spartan Fire with your repair paperwork so it can handle reimbursement under this campaign.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 19, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 24, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 24, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 13, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V492?
Recall 20V492 covers 1 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator equipped with Code 3 7x9 Stop-Tail-Turn Reverse All-in-One LED lights. The lights exceed the allowed brightness and can affect other drivers' vision, increasing crash risk. Spartan Fire's remedy is a free Code 3 filter kit, part number CZ0199.
What should I do if my 2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V492. If it is, contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-866-582-2376 and ask how to obtain the Code 3 filter kit. Reference Spartan Fire recall number 20-10 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost. For this recall, Spartan Fire will instruct the owner to contact Code 3 for a free filter kit, part number CZ0199.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is glare from exterior lighting that is too bright. Excessive brightness can affect the vision of other drivers and increase crash risk. The free filter kit is meant to bring the affected lights back within the allowed output.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V492000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan Fire customer service | 1-866-582-2376 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V492 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V492000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →