RoadVitals

2008 Sterling Bullet

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 May 16, 2017
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 Dec 7, 2016
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 2008 Sterling Bullet, most frequently naming the airbags category. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 91 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

  • Airbags1100.0%

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
16V880000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Dec 7, 2016
235 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet 4500 and 5500 cab chassis vehicles manufactured November 1, 2007, to November 7, 2008. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may develop a short circuit.
The risk: If the alternator develops a short circuit, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and DTNA dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-729.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-729View on NHTSA.gov
15V361000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jun 10, 2015
2,601 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured October 15, 2007, to November 10, 2008. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the driver or other occupants.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-684.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-684View on NHTSA.gov
13V605000

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Nov 29, 2013
2,564 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet trucks manufactured October 15, 2007, through November 10, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the left outer tie rod ball stud may fracture.
The risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod assembly with a redesigned assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2015. Customers may contact DTNA at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-655.
Daimler Trucks North AmericaManufacturer number FL-655View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Airbags
Filed May 16, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 STERLING BULLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V418000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OFFERED A CALL BACK TO NOTIFY OF WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10985914
Incident
Jun 9, 2016

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.

sbh00022

EQUIPMENT

Reminder: Paper Service Bulletin Mailings Are Discontinued

ICI18-039

AIR BAGS

ICI18-039 Takata Recalls ? Dealer Incentive & Owner Incentive Extended

ICI18-027 Takata

AIR BAGS

Takata Recalls ? Letters from State DMVs

ICI18-025 Takata

AIR BAGS

Takata Recalls ? Dealer Incentive Extended & Owner Incentive Added

sbh0006

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

If a GVWR certification label is lost or damaged, Freightliner will supply a duplicate label. Log on to DTNAConnect.com and under "DTNAConnect Resources", select the "Tool and Services" plus sign. Select "Request for Certification Labl or OWI." Fillout the form, then select "Review."

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 Bullet by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009040—
2008Viewing150—
2007000—

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.