Car Problem DataNHTSA records

Freightliner Sterling

Owners filed 2 complaints across 7 model years of the Freightliner Sterling. The 2002 drew the most (1); the 2004 the fewest (0).

Model years7
Complaints2
Recalls9
Fires0
Deaths0

Every Freightliner Sterling model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
20040
1———Routine
20021
0——Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod AssemblyRoutine
20010
1———Routine
20000
4———Routine
19991
1——Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator AssemblyRoutine
19980
1———Routine
19970
1———Routine

Which Freightliner Sterling years should you avoid?

On raw complaint volume the 2002 is the weakest year on record, with 1 complaints concentrated in the steering › linkages › tie rod assembly.

Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.