Recall 22V019 affects 22 2021-2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar and Gladiator vehicles for a rear axle pinion fracture. Free repair at a franchised Spartan Fire dealer.
Spartan Fire is recalling 22 2021-2022 Metrostar and Gladiator vehicles equipped with Meritor 180 series drive pinions because the rear axle drive pinion can fracture. The broken pinion can contact the brake drop hose and engage the parking brake without detection or brake lights, increasing crash risk; Spartan Fire dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear axle carrier on 2021-2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar and Gladiator vehicles houses the drive pinion, a geared shaft that transfers engine power into the rear axle. When the driveline turns, the pinion meshes with the ring gear inside the axle carrier so the rear wheels receive power in the correct direction and ratio. The pinion has to hold its shape under heavy load.
On the included vehicles, Meritor traced the defect to variation in the spline tooling geometry used in its process for the 180 series drive pinion. The spline is the cut pattern that lets the shaft lock into the driveline. If that geometry is wrong, stress concentrates in the pinion shaft, and the rear axle drive pinion can fracture during a high-load event.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue can happen without a driver or crew noticing a change first.
Who's affected?
Covers Metrostar and Gladiator trucks from the 2021 and 2022 model years, all using the same drive axle.
| 2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar | drive axle |
|---|---|
| 2021 Spartan Fire Metrostar | drive axle |
| 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator | drive axle |
| 2022 Spartan Fire Gladiator | drive axle |
| Units affected | 22 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 3 field incidents 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?
A fractured drive pinion can contact the brake drop hose and engage the parking brake without the driver detecting it or brake lights turning on. There is no warning sign before the issue occurs. That increases the risk of a crash. Repair is free at any franchised Spartan Fire dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021-2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar or Gladiator is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Spartan Fire dealer to schedule the free rear-axle drive-pinion inspection and replacement, which fixes the pinion fracture risk.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 22V019 when you call.
- Call Spartan Fire customer service at 1-715-754-5261 with questions about the inspection and replacement.
- Stop using the vehicle and call the dealer if the parking brake engages unexpectedly or the brake lights fail to activate.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Spartan Fire technician inspects the rear axle drive pinion and replaces the drive pinion if the inspection shows it needs replacement. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Marion Body Works has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for this repair. If you have prior repair paperwork, ask the service desk or Marion Body Works customer service how to submit documented expenses under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 20, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 28, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 1, 2022 | Dealer notification began |
| February 1, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 4, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V019?
Recall 22V019 covers 22 2021-2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar and Gladiator vehicles equipped with Meritor 180 series drive pinions. The rear axle drive pinion can fracture, contact the brake drop hose, and engage the parking brake without brake lights. Meritor will inspect and replace the drive pinion for free.
What should I do if my 2021-2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar or Gladiator is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 22V019. If it is, contact a Spartan Fire dealer or Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261 to arrange the Meritor drive pinion inspection and replacement. Reference Marion Body Works recall number 21V-899 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair to be completed at no cost to the owner. For this recall, Meritor will inspect the rear axle drive pinion and replace it as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unintended parking brake engagement without brake lights. If the rear axle drive pinion fractures and contacts the brake drop hose, the parking brake can engage without detection by the driver or surrounding traffic, increasing crash risk.
When were owners notified about recall 22V019?
Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. If you own a 2021-2022 Spartan Fire Metrostar or Gladiator and never received a letter, check your VIN and contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V019000 |
|---|---|
| Spartan Fire customer service | 1-715-754-5261 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V019 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V019000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →