RoadVitals

2009 Sterling 8500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jan 24, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Aug 31, 2011
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2009 Sterling 8500, most frequently naming the engine and fuel system categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 67 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
11V455000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Aug 31, 2011
43 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2012 FREIGHTLINER M2, STERLING ACTERRA, 7500 & 8500, AND THOMAS BUILT HDX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2004, THROUGH MARCH 15, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
The risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number 10C-5View on NHTSA.gov
10V341000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Jul 27, 2010
5,743 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, FCCC, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
The risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number 10C-5View on NHTSA.gov
09V400000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Oct 8, 2009
18,067 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL DD15 EPA07 ENGINES WHICH WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GRID HEATERS. INCREASED INTERNAL GRID HEATER RESISTANCE CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED SCREWS MAY MELT THE SOLDER ON THE GRID HEATER CIRCUIT BOARD LEADING TO A SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: A SHORT-CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: THE ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC WILL BE REPROGRAMMED FREE OF CHARGE BY DETROIT DIESEL AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE COLD WEATHER STARTING WITHOUT THE NEED OF A GRID HEATER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-5800 AND DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 24, 2011

THESE THREE TYPES OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 2009 STERLING LNG, 2010 FREIGHTLINER LNG AND KENWORTH LNG 2010 ARE DESIGN TO TRANSPORT LOADS IN AND OUT FROM THE PORT OF LONG BEACH. THESE THREE VEHICLES HAS A TENDENCY TO BE MECHANICALLY PROBLEMATIC BY CONSTANTLY BREAKING DOWN BUT THE MOST CONCERN ISSUE IS THAT THESE VEHICLES HAS A NORMAL FUNCTION IN TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHICH IS DANGEROUS TO OUR PUBLIC. THE COMPANY I WORK FOR HAS AROUND 200 LNG TRUCKS WHICH THEY ALL SUDDENLY TURN OFF ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. OUR COMPANY STATE THAT ONLY A 10% OF THE LNG TRUCKS HAVE THIS ISSUE WHICH IS A LIE BECAUSE I DRIVE THIS TRUCKS AND ALL OF MY COLLIES WORKERS HAVE THESE ISSUES. THESE TRUCKS NEED A RECALL AND NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10379141
Incident
Jan 1, 2011

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

WI21-008

EQUIPMENT

Warranty Information Letter announcing DTNA is adjusting the Standard Repair Times (SRTs) shown. The updated times will be applied to repair orders opened on or after April 5, 2021.

14CSA23

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

14CSA23 CSC Announces ?Tech Tips? ? DDCSN

15TS3

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

15TS3 Detroit? Coolant Change From Nitrite Organic Acid Technology

16-011

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

16-011 New Detroit Camshaft Housing Seal Standard Repair Time

16TS7

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

16TS7 Reman Diesel Particulate Filter Serial Number

16-008

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

New Detroit Bearing Failure Analysis Standard Diagnostic Time

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Sterling 8500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012010—
2011020—
2010050—
2009Viewing150—
2008040—
2007040—
2006020—
2005010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.