The 1996 Spartan Gladiator has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,479 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS99V1180001999-05-121,753 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THESE FIRE TRUCKS ARE ALL 4-DOOR MODELS WHICH CONTAIN DUAL, FORWARD FACING PASSENGER SEATS. THE HARDWARE UTILIZED TO MOUNT THE SEAT BOX TO THE CAB FLOOR AND TO THE BACKWALL STRUCTURE, AND ALSO TO MOUNT THE TYPE 1 SEAT BELT SYSTEMS, WAS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS…
Consequence
THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING/RESTRAINING HARDWARE CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL ALLOWING THE SEAT/SEAT BOX ASSEMBLY TO BREAK FREE OF ITS MOUNTING TO THE CAB FLOOR AND/OR BACKWALL WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THOSE SEATS.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING FASTENERS.
STRUCTURE99V0100001999-01-203,210 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THE CAB TILT SYSTEM CONTAINS A 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL SOLENOID ASSEMBLY AS AN ACCESSORY TO THE CAB TILT ELECTRIC MOTOR/HYDRAULIC PUMP ASSEMBLY. RAIN, SNOW, SALT SPRAY OR OTHER CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT CAN CORRODE THE SOLENOID OR "BRIDGE" THE ENERGIZING COIL WIRE TERMINAL CAUSING THE CAB…
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO ACTUATE WITHOUT CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HERMETICALLY SEALED SOLENOID ASSEMBLY.
SUSPENSION98V2860001998-11-0639 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. IF THE DRIVER ACCELERATES IN A TURN ABOVE 20 MPH FORWARD SPEED, THE LOCK PIN IS ACTUATED AND CAUSES THE AXLE TO RESIST RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED BECAUSE THE LOCK PIN IS BINDING ON THE CLAMP PLATE SURFACE.
Consequence
ENGAGING THE LOCK PIN IN THE LCMP PLATE HOLE AT HIGH FORWARD SPEEDS CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE LOCK PIN AND/OR THE CLAMP PLATE HOLE. LANE CHANGES AND OTHER VEHICLE MANEUVERS WILL GREATLY INCREASE CONTACT FREQUENCY AND CAUSES WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAG AXLES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS WITH OCCUPANT SIDE ENTRY DOORS. A DIFFICULTY IN LATCHING THE SIDE ENTRY DOORS TO THE FULL CLOSED POSITION, AND/OR, THE DOORS MAY RELEASE TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION. ALSO LOOSE RIVETS CAN CAUSE THE LATCH CONTROL MECHANISM TO BIND NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO LATCH PROPERLY WHEN…
Consequence
THE CAB DOOR COULD UNLATCH FROM ITS PRIMARY LATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNASSISTED TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE LATCH AND ACTUATOR ON THE DOORS.
Complaints by component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
1
Total complaints1
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Front drivers power seat broke off the power device so the whole seat slides off the rails completely. It is currently tied on with hose clamps and tie wraps, but is not secure. The chev dealer wants to replace the whole seat. Glaval corp., the installer of the seats admits no responsibility. No…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Spartan Gladiator as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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