Broken Shaft Seal May Cause Loss of Power Steering – 2020-2022 Spartan RV Chassis K3 & K4 Recreational Vehicles

September 27, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V752000

Broken Shaft Seal May Cause Loss of Power Steering

A loss of power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V752

Manufacturer Shyft Group

Components STEERING

Potential Number of Units Affected 91

 

Summary

Shyft Group is recalling certain 2020-2022 Spartan RV Chassis K3 and K4 recreational vehicles. A machining defect may cause pressure to build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.

 

Remedy

Shyft Group will inspect the pump serial number, and replace the power steering pump if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 23, 2021. Owners may contact Shyft Group’s customer service at 1-800-582-3454. Shyft Group’s number for this recall is 21-21.

 

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.nhtsa.gov.

 

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November 23, 2021

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL – 21V-752

 

This notice applies to the vehicle identification number in the label below.

 

Dear Valued Customer,

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

The Shyft Group, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2020, 2021 and 2022 model year K3 and K4 model Spartan RV Chassis equipped with a power steering pump supplied by ZF Active Safety and Electronics.

 

What is the Defect?

A machining defect within the power steering pump may cause pressure to build in the pump and the shaft seal to blow, which would result in a loss of power steering assist.

 

What is the Safety Risk?

A loss of power steering assist could increase the risk of a crash.

 

What is the Warning?

A loss of power steering assist could occur without warning.

 

What is the Remedy? 

The power steering pump will be replaced at no charge. Replacing the power steering pump make take up to 3 hours. However, due to scheduling times the service provider may need your vehicle for longer.             

 

What You Should Do: 

Call Spartan RV Chassis at 1-800-543-4277 to locate a qualified service center near you. Steps will be taken to ensure the work is performed at the nearest service center.

 

Leased Vehicles:

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.

 

Reimbursement: 

If you had this repair performed before you received this letter, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall.  For more information contact Spartan RV Chassis at 1-800-543-4277.

 

Reply Card: 

Please fill out the enclosed prepaid postcard and mail it to us if you have changed your address, sold, or traded the vehicle.

 

If the authorized service center has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge and within a reasonable time, contact Spartan RV Chassis at 1-800-543-4277.  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: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov if you feel the manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge.

 

We regret any inconvenience this service may cause you. Your safety and continued satisfaction with the quality and performance of your chassis is of the utmost concern to us.

 

Sincerely

 

The Shyft Group, Inc.

 

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Chronology :

On 8-6-2021, Shyft was contacted by ZF to inform us of the potential for approximately 87 power steering pumps that may have been subject to a machining defect which may cause pressure to build in the pump and the shaft seal. This condition could cause power steering fluid to leak into the engine and result in a loss of power steering assist. ZF further asserted this would be an infantile failure. Upon notice, Shyft began a review of warranty data and customer complaints in an effort to identify complaints involving loss of power steering assist. Although none were identified, there were two claims involving power steering fluid leaking into the engine oil. Further, production information was pulled then compared to purchase order and receipt history.

From there 90 VIN’s were identified that potentially would be equipped with the suspect pumps. From the warranty and customer complaint history, one power steering pump was retrieved from the complainant and an analysis by ZF, provided on 8-31-2001, pump seal failed due to a separate cause. The second pump has not been returned for analysis. On 9-14-2021, in discussion with ZF, they could not identify what changed, and when, in their process to result in the machining defect. (e.g. a gradual change or sudden change) On 9-16-2021, a discussion with ODI occurred on the matter and on 9-20-2021, in an overabundance of caution, Shyft elected to issue a safety related recall.

 

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6 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
SPARTAN	K3	2020-2022
SPARTAN	K4	2020-2022

 

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6 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V752-7761.pdf 645.738KB

 

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Recall 573 Report- Amendment 1

RCLRPT-21V752-9389.PDF 214.04KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V752-2806.pdf 99.3KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-4

RCLQRT-21V752-3693.PDF 211.222KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2022-1

RCLQRT-21V752-9571.PDF 211.222KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2022-2

RCLQRT-21V752-4695.PDF 211.308KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=21V752&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2026-06-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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