2005 Sterling L-Line

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › rear › springs › leaf spring assembly › hanger/bracket. It has been recalled 8 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly › Hanger/Bracket1
000

8 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Diesel11V478000
Filed Sep 16, 201173,500 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 11, 2003, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTERS MOUNTED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE BETWEEN ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER AND ENGINE BLOCK MAY DEVELOP A SUBSTANTIAL DIESEL FUEL LEAK.

Risk. THIS COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS ON OCTOBER 28, 2011. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Fuel System, Other11V136000
Filed Feb 25, 20112,013 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 STERLING L-LINE VEHICLES CONFIGURED WITH CAR HAULER BODIES AND CHASSIS, AND EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 MBE4000 ENGINES WITH A FUEL FILTER MOUNTED AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2004, THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2007. THE LOWER LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES BETWEEN THE PRIMARY FUEL PUMP AND THE ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER, AND THE UPPER LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER AND THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY DEVELOP A SUBSTANTIAL DIESEL FUEL LEAK FROM CRACKING, OR FROM ABRASION DUE TO CONTACT WITH OTHER COMPONENTS.

Risk. FUEL LEAK ONTO THE ROADWAY COULD CAUSE A SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES WITH A MORE ROBUST FUEL LINES. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL DURING APRIL 2011. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Engine and Engine Cooling09V366000
Filed Sep 23, 200925,362 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Risk. AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings08V668000
Filed Dec 17, 200824,650 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING 24,650 SCHOOL AND NON-SCHOOL BUSES, MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 9, 2004 THROUGH AUGUST 18, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 CERTIFIED MBE900 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED BY DETROIT DIESEL BETWEEN MARCH 1, 2004, AND JULY 31, 2006. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE.

Risk. A FRACTURED FUEL LINE MAY LEAK DIESEL FUEL POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR FUEL MAY BE SPILLED ON THE ROAD CAUSING A SLIPPERY SURFACE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DETROIT DIESEL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED WITH MORE ROBUST LINES AND VIBRATION DAMPERS FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED DETROIT DIESEL DISTRIBUTORSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL 1-313-592-3708 OR DTNA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Fuel System, Diesel08V113000
Filed Mar 11, 200862,000 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 62,000 MY 2005-2007 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, FLD, CLASSIC, STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS. A FRACTURED FUEL LINE COULD LEAK DIESEL FUEL.

Risk. IF A LEAK CONTINUES UNDETECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, FUEL MAY IGNITE AT A HOT ENGINE SURFACE AND/OR FUEL MAY BE SPILLED ON THE ROAD SURFACE.

Remedy. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Service Brakes, Air › Supply › Check Valve07V302000
Filed Jul 16, 200775,000 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, HEAVY TRUCKS, AND THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2002 AND JULY 3, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE CONTROL VALVES. THE PARKER SCV BRASS 90 DEGREE SINGLE CHECK VALVES (SCV) WHICH ATTACH TO THE SUPPLY PORT OF A BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE CAN BREAK APART. PIECES OF THE PARKER SCV CAN BECOME LODGED INSIDE THE SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING EITHER LEAKAGE OUT OF THE SR-7 VALVE OR PREVENTING AIR FROM PROPERLY EXHAUSTING FROM THE SR-7 VALVE. ALSO, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE INSIDE THE SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES, THE VALVES CAN BECOME DEFORMED AND NOT SEAT PROPERLY.

Risk. THESE CONDITIONS COULD EITHER RESULT IN LEAKAGE AND CAUSE A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKE WITHOUT WARNING OR POSSIBLY LEAD TO UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY OR BRAKE DRAG WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.

Remedy. FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2008 TO FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS OWNERS; TO THOMAS BUILT BUS OWNERS ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Engine and Engine Cooling06V030000
Filed Feb 8, 20065,771 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Risk. THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy. CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH FREIGHTLINER, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle05V125000
Filed Mar 30, 20051,564 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS THE REAR HUB BEARINGS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED.

Risk. THE REAR AXLE WHEEL ENDS WITH EXCESSIVE BEARING PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT WILL OVERHEAT AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL CHECK THE REAR WHEEL END INSTALLATION TO VERITY BEARING ADJUSTMENT AND REPAIR TRUCKS WITH DAMAGED BEARINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 2005 OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly › Hanger/Bracket
Filed Oct 24, 200715,800 milesMN

STERLING TRUCKS WITH TUFF-TRAC REAR SUSPENSION, THE SPRING MOUNTS ON THE AXLES ARE HITTING THE TRUCK FRAME. *TR

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20100200Routine
20091500Routine
200801100Routine
20073800Routine
20060900Routine
2005 — this page1800Routine
20040800Routine
20031300Routine
20020200Routine
20011200Routine
20000300Routine
19990500Routine
19980500Routine

Compare every L-Line year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 16, 2011. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.