Tire Chain Air Line Pressure Protection/FMVSS 121 – 2015-2019 Maintainer Custom Bodies Heavy Rescue Emergency Response Vehicles

December 18, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V898000

Tire Chain Air Line Pressure Protection/FMVSS 121

Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V898

Manufacturer Maintainer Corporation of Iowa, Inc.

Components SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Potential Number of Units Affected 3

 

Summary

Maintainer Corporation of Iowa, Inc. (Maintainer) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Custom Bodies Heavy Rescue emergency response vehicles equipped with a pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain system. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected.

 

Remedy

Maintainer has notified owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact Maintainer customer service at 1-800-831-8588 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.

 

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.

 

---

DATE:	10-8-19
APPLIES TO:	This Recall service bulletin applies to 2004 through 2019 model year, Gladiator and Metro Star model emergency response chassis cabs built between August 1, 2004 and August 30, 2019 equipped with automatic tire chain kits.
NHTSA/TC Id:	19V674
CONDITION:	Automatic tire chain kits may not be pressure protected from system 1 and system 2.
CORRECTION:	Inspect to ensure pressure protection. If not pressure protected, plumb the tire chain system to the auxiliary or air horn tank.
LABOR ALLOCATION:	1.5 hrs.
CLASSIFICATION:	E3
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:	Thoroughly review entire service bulletin before starting work. If there are questions or concerns with steps defined in this service bulletin, contact Spartan Motors USA, Inc. Customer & Product Support Group. All applicable industry safety standards must be followed when performing work identified in this procedure.

 

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Properly support chassis to gain access to work underneath.
2. Identify whether automatic tire chain kits are pressure protected from primary and secondary systems.
   1. With park brake engaged, check to see that both primary and secondary system pressures are 100psi or higher.
      1. If yes; advance to step 2.d.
   2. Start engine.
   3. Shutdown engine when both primary and secondary system pressures reach 100psi.
   4. Turn on master and ignition switches to activate dash gauges.
   5. Fully drain all auxiliary, air horn and emergency spring brake release tanks. (Identified by decal on air tank.)
   6. Activate automatic tire chains.
      1. If they do not actuate, system is pressure protected. Do not continue.
      2. If they actuate, continue to step 3.
3. Drain wet, primary, and secondary tanks completely. (Identified by decal on air tank.)
4. Locate plugged port on either auxiliary or air horn tank and remove plug.
5. Locate port automatic tire chain air supply is plumbed to and remove fittings from this port. Use plug removed in step 4 to plug this port, apply pipe sealer with Teflon or equivalent. Refer to FIG 3-1.
6. Reinstall fittings and air line removed in step 5 into now open port from step 4, apply pipe sealer with Teflon or equivalent. Refer to FIG 3-2.
7. Fill air system and check for air leaks. Zip tie all loose air lines.

 

---

December 20, 2019

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL: 19V-898

This notice applies to your vehicle identification number below.

REF:  MCB Unit Number:  M350

Spartan VIN Number:

Spartan Recall Number: 19V-674

 

 

Dear Valued Customer,

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Maintainer has decided that a defect exists with certain 2019 Custom Bodies Heavy Rescue emergency response vehicles. One of our vendors (Spartan Motors USA) has provided information that certain 2004 through 2020 model year Emergency Response Gladiator and MetroStar model vehicles, equipped with a pneumatically controlled automatic tire chain system, may fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, Air Brake System. More specifically, these vehicles may fail to meet section 5.1.2.3. of the standard. One of these chassis was included in the 2019 MCB (Maintainer Custom Bodies) Heavy Rescue vehicle that you purchased from us. Details of their recall are shown in their owner notification letter that is included in this mailing.  Please read the information carefully and follow the directions as outlined.

 

Noncompliance:

The service air reservoir system may not be pressure protected where the control line for the automatic tire chain system is connected.

If control line were to become severed, the service reservoir system may suddenly lose air.

Although there would be a visual and audible warning indicating the loss of air, a sudden loss of air to the air brake system could increase the risk of a crash.

 

Corrective Action:

We have included the Spartan Motors USA recall notice in this mailing. Spartan dealers will inspect the control line to determine if it is pressure protected. If it is not, it will be disconnected and rerouted to an auxiliary air reservoir that is pressure protected.

Inspection of the control line may take up to ½ hour. Disconnecting and rerouting of the control line may extend this time by ½ hour. Due to some service scheduling times, the service center may need your vehicle for a longer period.

Please read the information carefully and follow the directions as outlined.  You will work directly with Spartan Motors USA related to this matter.  However, Maintainer Custom Bodies will need to be notified when this issue has been resolved (1-800-843-4288). Call Spartan Emergency Response at 1-800-867-6478 to locate a service center near you. Steps will be taken to ensure the inspection is performed at the nearest service center.

The lessor must notify the lessee by first class mail within ten (10) days from receipt of their owner notification letter from the manufacturer; both for the initial notification and all subsequent notifications.

If the authorized service center has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge and within a reasonable time, contact Spartan at 1-800-867-6478. You may also submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov if you feel the manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge.

If you have any specific questions, please contact Spartan Motors USA at 1-800-867-6478.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you.

 

Kind regards,
Rick Wolthuizen

 

Quality Manager
Maintainer Corporation of Iowa, Inc.

 

---

2 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
MAINTAINER	CUSTOM BODY	2015, 2019

 

---

9 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V898-4915.PDF 211.149KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V898-0753.PDF 211.144KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V898-1687.pdf 301.257KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V898-5550.pdf 302.097KB

 

---

Recall 573 Report- Amendment 1

RCLRPT-19V898-4556.PDF 213.895KB

 

---

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V898-4270.PDF 213.247KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-19V898-0489.pdf 637.962KB

 

---

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V898-8799.pdf 286.553KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V898-9192.PDF 211.151KB

 

---

Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V898&docType=RCL

 

---

 

Last update on 2025-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

---

 

This product presentation was made with AAWP plugin.