By year
Owner complaints about Sterling vehicles peaked at 6 in 2008
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 1995 to 2026. 2026 runs through October.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints and recalls files. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Make
Sterling
The complete NHTSA record for Sterling vehicles: owner complaints, recall campaigns, defect investigations and manufacturer communications, for every model and model year on file.
Most Sterling recalls are filed by Freightliner, part of Sterling.
Owner complaints in the last five years253 on file in all, across 32 models
Recall campaigns950 in five years
Severity index15.1Crash, fire, injury or death per 100 complaints
Investigations8720 service bulletins
Components
Suspension draws the most owner complaints about Sterling vehicles, 12% of them
Share of all owner complaints on file, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI.
Models
The Acterra has the most complaints of any Sterling model
Every Sterling model with complaints or recalls on file, by complaints. Counts are not rates: NHTSA publishes no sales volumes.
| Model | Model years | Complaints | Severity index | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acterra | 1994 to 2012 | 7 | 28.6 | 110 | 11 |
| L-Line | 1997 to 2017 | 7 | 14.3 | 56 | 8 |
| 827 | 1989 to 1991 | 7 | 14.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Bullet 5500 | 2008 to 2009 | 6 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sterling | 1988 to 2002 | 4 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 360 | 2007 to 2009 | 3 | 66.7 | 8 | 0 |
| LT | 1998 to 2007 | 3 | 33.3 | 5 | 0 |
| 825 | 1986 to 1999 | 3 | 0.0 | 3 | 3 |
| A-Line | 1997 to 2017 | 2 | 0.0 | 54 | 3 |
| 825SL | 1988 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9500 | 2006 to 2013 | 1 | 0.0 | 38 | 4 |
| 8500 | 2005 to 2012 | 1 | 0.0 | 24 | 0 |
| Bullet | 2007 to 2009 | 1 | 0.0 | 9 | 0 |
| LT9500 | 2004 to 2008 | 1 | 0.0 | 5 | 0 |
| Cargo | 1999 to 2007 | 1 | 100.0 | 4 | 0 |
| HX | 2003 to 2004 | 1 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tractor | 1999 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7500 | 2005 to 2012 | 0 | None | 14 | 0 |
| Condor | 2000 to 2007 | 0 | None | 14 | 0 |
| LT8500 | 2007 to 2015 | 0 | None | 11 | 0 |
| L9500 | 2004 to 2008 | 0 | None | 5 | 0 |
| AT9500 | 2000 to 2010 | 0 | None | 4 | 0 |
| HX L-Line | 2005 to 2007 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| A9500 | 2007 to 2008 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| AT | 2006 to 2007 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| Bullet 4500 | 2008 to 2009 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| L8500 | 2006 to 2007 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| LT7500 | 1999 to 2007 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| Century | 2006 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| L | 2007 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| L7500 | 2007 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| LT 8500 | 2006 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Recall counts add campaigns across model years, so a campaign covering three years counts three times.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns listing a Sterling product
- 20V-214 Apr 14, 2020
Rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, which may reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road
Lighting · 63k vehicles - 19V-370 May 14, 2019
Vehicles may have an insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity
Brakes · 741 vehicles - 16V-880 Dec 7, 2016
Affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may develop a short circuit
Electrical system · 235 vehicles - 16V-418 Jun 9, 2016
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original…
Airbags · 2,601 vehicles - 15V-361 Jun 10, 2015
Affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could…
Airbags · 2,601 vehicles - 15V-343 Jun 3, 2015
Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather,…
Engine and cooling · 3,200 vehicles - 14V-080 Feb 21, 2014
Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold…
Engine and cooling · 3,258 vehicles - 13V-605 Nov 29, 2013
In the affected vehicles, the left outer tie rod ball stud may fracture
Steering · 2,564 vehicles - 12V-576 Dec 11, 2012
Fuel lines may crack due to an improper manufacturing process
Fuel system · 1,601 vehicles - 12V-405 Aug 16, 2012
Air tank mounting brackets may develop cracks which can lead to the air tank brackets separating from the frame rail
Equipment · 1,663 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.