NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Spartan K3 Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Spartan K3 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Spartan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Spartan K3. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Spartan K3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2005 Spartan K3, describing incidents dated October 1, 2006.

Most-cited components

Back Over Prevention 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Equipment 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Interior Lighting 1 complaint
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10202459 · Filed September 10, 2007
VEHICLE: 2005 TRAVEL SUPREME ENVOY MODEL 38DS04 CLASS A MOTOR HOME WITH SPARTAN CHASSIS. DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE DRIVELINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE /MISTAKEN REVERSED ASSEMBLY CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AND POTENTIAL DROP OUT ON ROAD CAUSING UNDUE WEAR TO ALL DRIVELINE…

Read the full complaint

Engine Cooling Fan may Detach from Engine

NHTSA #15V549000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Fan · NHTSA notice

Reported September 1, 2015 · Spartan Motors USA

Potentially affected: 1,212 vehicles

Repair completion: 26.8% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Spartan campaign 15014 · Owners notified October 29, 2015 · Vehicles built March 17, 2003 – March 15, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 K2, K3 and MM motorhomes manufactured March 17, 2003, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the engine cooling fan may separate from the fan drive while the fan is spinning.

Safety consequence

If the engine area is open and the cooling fan is operating and detaches, someone nearby may be injured.

Manufacturer remedy

Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fan and fan drive system, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on October 29, 2015. The recall began on October 29, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-582-3454. Spartan's number for this recall is 15014.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE/CATERPILLAR

NHTSA #09V455000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported November 30, 2009 · SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC.

Potentially affected: 14 vehicles

Spartan campaign 09025 · Owners notified December 7, 2009 · Vehicles built December 12, 2004 – March 1, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

SPARTAN IS RECALLING 14 MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 MOTORHOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 12, 2004 AND MARCH 1, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Safety consequence

AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.

Manufacturer remedy

SPARTAN IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE RECALL 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-4277 OPTION 1.

Notes

SPARTAN'S CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 09025.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE/OIL LEAK

NHTSA #06V413000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported October 31, 2006 · SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC.

Potentially affected: 1 vehicle

Spartan campaign SPEC 06025 · Owners notified November 6, 2006 · Vehicles built November 12, 2004 – November 12, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH A CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE IN A FLEETWOOD HERITAGE MOTOR HOME, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION (VVA) OIL LINE MAY WEAR CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Safety consequence

AN OIL LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE THAT MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 05E078). THE VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED, THE VVA OIL LINE REPLACED, AND A RETENTION CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. THE RECALL BEGAN ONNOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-877-777-3126, SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

Notes

SPARTAN RECALL NO. SPEC 06025.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

I-SHAFT ASSEMBLY CAN DISCONNECT/ZF

NHTSA #05V283000 · Steering — Linkages · NHTSA notice

Reported June 17, 2005 · SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC.

Potentially affected: 86 vehicles

Spartan campaign SPEC 05022 · Owners notified August 15, 2005 · Vehicles built October 20, 2003 – September 2, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE I-SHAFT IS THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING GEAR. AT THE NON-WELDED SIDE OF THE I-SHAFT THERE IS A UNIVERSAL JOINT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FORK SHAFT CONNECTION COULD BE LOST.

Safety consequence

DRIVERS WILL LOSE STEERABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE I-SHAFT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Notes

SPARTAN RECALL NO.SPEC 05022.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Spartan K3. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Spartan K3.

Service Brakes, Air; Power Train; Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Visibility; Structure; Latches/Locks/Linkages; Seats; Interior Lighting; Equipment; Back Over Prevention

ODI #10202459

Incident: October 1, 2006 · Filed: September 10, 2007

VEHICLE: 2005 TRAVEL SUPREME ENVOY MODEL 38DS04 CLASS A MOTOR HOME WITH SPARTAN CHASSIS. DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE DRIVELINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE /MISTAKEN REVERSED ASSEMBLY CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AND POTENTIAL DROP OUT ON ROAD CAUSING UNDUE WEAR TO ALL DRIVELINE COMPONENTS AND DAMAGE DUE TO STRIKING BOLTS IN CHASSIS, AS WELL AS EXTREME DISCOMFORT DURING DRIVING AT LESS THAN NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. UNIT HAD NUMEROUS OTHER SERIOUS ASSEMBLY DEFECTS. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED WRONG CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE ROAD SURFACES AT NIGHT AT ANY SAFE OR ACCEPTABLE DISTANCE, NOT ADJUSTABLE. WINDSHIELD WASHERS WERE CLOGGED AT SPRAYER TUBE JOINTS WITH DRIED SEALANT PREVENTING WINDSHIELDS FROM BEING WASHED AND OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY TO DRIVER. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT MY HANDS-ON HELP ON-SITE TO REPAIR. AIR PRESSURE SYSTEM FOR FRONT BRAKES WAS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY WITH AIR SHUTTING DOWN AND ERRORS AFFECTING BRAKING FUNCTION AND SAFETY, SETTING OFF WARNINGS. EXHAUST WOULD ENTER REAR OF VEHICLE WHICH EMITTED BURNING RUBBER AROMAS WHEN USED. FULL REPORTS INCLUDE ABOUT 14 PAGES WITH MUCH MORE DATA REGARDING SIGNIFICANT AND SERIOUS VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEMS, CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS. FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH, AND STEP WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN IN TRAVEL. *TR

Other Spartan K3 model years

Check your 2005 Spartan K3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Spartan K3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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