Sterling L-Line Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 27 safety recalls and 7 owner complaints across 13 model years of the Sterling L-Line (1998–2010). The most-complained-about year is 2007.
Pick your Sterling L-Line model year
What Sterling L-Line owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. The 2007 model year has the most, with 3.
All Sterling L-Line recalls (27)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Sterling L-Line, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Fuel system, diesel
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 heavy trucks manufactured from july 11, 2003, through september 28, 2007, equipped with epa04 model mbe4000 engines built with plastic low pressure fuel lines and fuel filters mounted near the center of the engine on the left-hand side. The plastic low pressure fuel line…
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. Vehicles will be inspected and the plastic low pressure fuel line will be replaced with a…
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Cables (electrical system)
Dtna is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 freightliner; cascadia, century class, columbia, and coronado, certain model year 2008-2009 sterling; a-line and l-line and certain model year 2009-2012 western star constellation vehicles, manufactured from january 14, 2008, through june 15, 2011, built with detroit diesel 15 or 16…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new bolt and isolator and repair the recreational vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on december 21, 2011. Owners may contact dtna at 1-800-547-0712.
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Fuel system, other
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 sterling l-line vehicles configured with car hauler bodies and chassis, and equipped with epa04 mbe4000 engines with a fuel filter mounted at the rear of the engine, manufactured from september 13, 2004, through october 10, 2007. The lower low pressure fuel lines between the…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper and lower low pressure fuel lines with a more robust fuel lines. This service will be performed free of charge. Dtna will notify owners of the recall during april 2011. The safety recall…
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Column (steering)
Daimler trucks (dtna) is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 freightliner business class m2, sterling acterra, a-line, and l-line heavy trucks manufactured from september 8, 2008 through april 20, 2009 equipped with trw igen3 intermediate steering columns. The weld around the igen3 steering shaft tube that secures the spline tube…
Remedy: Dtna will notify owners and the buses will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on december 23, 2010. Owners may contact dtna at 1-800-547-0712.
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Engine and engine cooling
Daimler trucks is recalling model year 2004-2010 trucks 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.
Remedy: Daimler trucks is working with caterpillar to remedy these vehicles. Please see caterpillar's defect report 09e-020. Caterpillar will inspect and repair the necessary components free of charge. The recall began on may…
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Diesel (engine and engine cooling)
Daimler trucks is recalling 2 my 2008-2009 freightliner columbia and sterling l-line trucks equipped with caterpillar c7, c9, c13 and c15 diesel engines. Inadequate stiffness of the diesel particulate filter (dpf) bracket could result in separation of the dpf from the chassis.
Remedy: Daimler trucks is working with caterpillar (please see 08e041). Owners may contact caterpillar at-1-800-447-4986 or daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
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Diesel (engine and engine cooling)
Caterpillar is recalling 14 my 2008-2009 sterling a-line & l-line trucks equipped with caterpillar engine. The aftertreatment regeneration device (ard) may develop a hole and heat and flame may escape during a regeneration of the diesel particular filter.
Remedy: Daimler trucks is working with caterpillar (please see 08e-069). Owners may contact caterpillar at-1-800-447-4986 or daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Daimler trucks north america (dtna) is recalling 24,650 school and non-school buses, motor home chassis, and trucks manufactured from march 9, 2004 through august 18, 2006, equipped with epa04 certified mbe900 engines, manufactured by detroit diesel between march 1, 2004, and july 31, 2006. The high pressure fuel lines and transfer…
Remedy: Detroit diesel will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired with more robust lines and vibration dampers free of charge. Repairs will be performed by authorized detroit diesel distributorships. The recall began…
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Air (parking brake)
Daimler trucks is recalling 900 my 2008 freightliner argosy, argosy rhd, cascadia, columbia, century st, coronado, sterling acterra, l-line and western star 4900 trucks equipped with bendix mv-3 dash control valves. The molded valve body has an incorrect core pin in the injection mold causing the valve body to be oversized in the double…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the mv-3 dash valve for the production date code. Valves in the affected production lots will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on october 9, 2008. Owners may contact daimler trucks at…
Model years: 2008
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Fuel system, diesel
Daimler trucks is recalling 62,000 my 2005-2007 freightliner business class, century class, columbia, coronado, fld, classic, sterling a-line, l-line, and western star 4900 trucks. A fractured fuel line could leak diesel fuel.
Remedy: High pressure fuel lines and transfer tubes will be inspected and replaced free of charged. The recall began on july 9, 2008. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
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Shaft sector (steering)
On certain trucks equipped with trw steering gears, models tas85 and rcs85, these steering gears contain potentially defective sector shafts with an incorrect gear tooth which may interfere with the rack-piston teeth, resulting in a stick or bind condition.
Remedy: Freightliner is working with trw to replace the defective steering gear (please see 07e101). The recall began on april 18, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Model years: 2008
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Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)
On certain truck-tractors equipped with holland simplex se or se ii fifth wheels, the latch lever pivot bolt assembly may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve. Corrosion or contaminates in the pivot may cause it to bind and prevent the fifth wheel jaw from latching securely around the trailer king pin.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer. The recall began on january 3, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
On certain trucks built with axilok rear wheel spindle nuts, the nuts may have been improperly installed, with one or both locking clip tabs not properly engaged or damaged.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the axilok nuts for locking clip engagement or damage. They will be adjusted or replaced free of charge. The recall began on august 10, 2007. Owners may contact freightliner at 800-547-0712.
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Steering
Freightliner is recalling certain school bus chassis, heavy trucks, van chassis, rv motorhome chassis manufactured from january 5 to may 17, 2007, equipped with axle alliance company (aac) front axles. During the front axle assembly, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under tightened.
Remedy: Thomas built will notify owners, inspect the fasteners, and replace the steering arm if necessary. The recall began on december 21, 2007. Owners can contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Check valve (service brakes)
Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake control valves. The parker scv brass 90 degree single check valves (scv) which attach to the supply port of a bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valve can break…
Remedy: Freightliner will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on january 11, 2008 to freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis owners; to thomas built bus owners on february 1,…
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Engine and engine cooling
On certain trucks equipped with caterpillar diesel engines, the variable valve actuation oil line may wear against the sharp edge of the cylinder head if not positioned correctly.
Remedy: Caterpillar, in conjunction with freightliner, will be conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign free of charge. Owners may call caterpillar at 309-675-6496, or freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Motor (visibility)
On certain trucks equipped with visteon windshield wipers, the motor may have been produced without grease applied to the output shaft gear.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on february 13, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Model years: 2006
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
On certain trucks and fire trucks equipped with kys 4735-43782-02 engine cooling fans and built on caterpillar 3126, c7, mbe906, mbe926, or cummins isc engines, the steel fan insert on the cooling fans can crack.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan free of charge. The recall began on june 8, 2005. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
On certain car haulers equipped with mbe4000 engines, the clutch control cable may wear a hole into the fuel line, creating a fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel line and replace it if necessary free of charge. The recall began on december 8, 2005. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Spindle (suspension)
On certain trucks the rear hub bearings may have been incorrectly adjusted.
Remedy: Dealers will check the rear wheel end installation to verity bearing adjustment and repair trucks with damaged bearings. The recall began on april 7, 2005 owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Hub (suspension)
On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front hubs. Owner notification is expected to begin on or before september 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
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Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)
On certain truck-tractor model vehicles equipped with conmet simplex stationary or sliding fifth-wheel, the clinch pins that retain the fifth-wheel pivot pins may not be fully installed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fifth wheel to verify the correct installation of the clinch pin and pivot pin. Missing pins will be replaced. Owner notification began november 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
Model years: 2002
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Vehicle description: trucks, school bus and motor home chassis, and transit buses equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began may 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Model years: 1999
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Switch (exterior lighting)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. A loss of the turn signal function can occur due to a turn signal flasher that is not compatible with the turn signal switches that allow the brake lights to override the hazard warning lights. If the hazard warning lights are on and the brake lights are activated, the turn signal flasher senses…
Remedy: Dealers will install a turn signal flasher that is compatible with turn signal switches that allow the brake lights to override the hazard warning lights.
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Linkages (steering)
Vehicle description: conventional heavy duty trucks. The tie rod cross tubes could fracture due to fatigue caused by a system resonance.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the 1 1/2 inch tie rod cross tubes with a 1 3/4" tube.
Model years: 1998
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Vehicle description: heavy duty truck models with 111", 113", and 122" cabs. The fuel tank steps can develop fatigue cracks due to excessive overhang.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the step assembly for overhang and add an end support of the trailing edge of the fuel tank step, if necessary. Owner notification began november 2, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
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Electrical system: module
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar engines and eaton autoshift transmissions. The engines can stall because of software problems.
Remedy: Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy of this recall. Dealers will update these engines with software changes.
Other Sterling models
- 8277 complaints
- Acterra7 complaints
- Bullet 55006 complaints
- Sterling4 complaints
- 3603 complaints
- 8253 complaints
- A-Line3 complaints
- LT3 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.