RoadVitals

1998 Sterling L-Line

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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 Mar 21, 2003
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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Sterling L-Line. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 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.

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
03V112000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

Mar 21, 2003
5,716 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
The 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 THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-407View on NHTSA.gov
00V397000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

Nov 29, 2000
671 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 AN OVERLOAD CONDITION AND BECOMES DISABLED UNTIL ALL ELECTRIC LOADS ARE REMOVED.
The risk: FOLLOWING DRIVERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE TRUCK'S TURNING INTENTIONS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-275View on NHTSA.gov
00V108000

STEERING:LINKAGES

Apr 7, 2000
144 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVENTIONAL HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE TIE ROD CROSS TUBES COULD FRACTURE DUE TO FATIGUE CAUSED BY A SYSTEM RESONANCE.
The risk: LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE 1 1/2 INCH TIE ROD CROSS TUBES WITH A 1 3/4" TUBE.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-257View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

SSB-88-10

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD; STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

STERLING: AFTERMARKET HOOD WITH PIVOT BRACKET MOUNTING MODIFICATION CHANGES. *PE

SB-46-11

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

FREIGHTLINER: PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A NEW PART. *RM

SB-49-13

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DAIMLER TRUCKS: THERE ARE NEW CGI BELLOWS, BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONES ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. *RM

SB-31-4

SUSPENSION

STERLING TRUCK: AIRLINER SUSPENSION SIX PIECE BOLTED SERVICE CROSSMEMBER. SIX PIECE BOLTED SERVICE CROSS MEMBERS ARE AN IMPROVED, MORE DURABLE SERVICE REPLACEMENT FOR FIVE PIECE WELDED CROSS MEMBERS, OR BOLTED FIVE PIECE SERVICE CROSS MEMBERS, TO BE USED WITH STEEL FRAME RAILS. L LINE, A LINE, AND ACTERRA. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 4/4/11. MODEL S2. NO MODEL YEAR. *PE

SB-09-8

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

STERLING TRUCK: CHARGE AIR COOLER TUBE AND CONVOLUTED HOSE REPLACEMENT. HOSES MAY HAVE A REDUCED SERVICE LIFE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE CHARGE AIR COOLER (CAC) INLET AND OUTLET AIR PIPING. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

SB-32-16

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

STERLING: SOME BARKSDALE HEIGHT CONTROL VALVES HAVE BEEN RETURNED FOR WARRANTY BECAUSE FOUR BOLTS IN THE VALVE HOUSING WERE OVERTIGHTENED, OFTEN, ENOUGH TO CRACK THE VALVE HOUSING. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

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 L-Line by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000—
2016000—
2015000—
2014000—
2013000—
2012000—
2011000—
2010020—
2009150—
20080111—
2007384—
2006092—
2005181—
2004080—
2003130—
2002020—
2001120—
2000030—
1999050—
1998Viewing050—
1997000—

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.