2009 Sterling L-Line

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the equipment. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Equipment1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables11V330000
Filed Jun 21, 201148,170 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DTNA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 FREIGHTLINER; CASCADIA, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, AND CORONADO, CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 STERLING; A-LINE AND L-LINE AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 WESTERN STAR CONSTELLATION VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH JUNE 15, 2011, BUILT WITH DETROIT DIESEL 15 OR 16 ENGINES. THE BOLT ATTACHING A RUBBER ISOLATOR TO A SUPPORT BRACKET MAY BECOME LOOSE AND BACK OUT, POTENTIALLY CONTACTING AN UN-FUSED STARTER CABLE AND CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. A SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN AN UN-FUSED BATTERY CABLE AND CHASSIS GROUND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW BOLT AND ISOLATOR AND REPAIR THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA AT 1-800-547-0712.

Steering › Column10V322000
Filed Jul 13, 20106,325 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2, STERLING ACTERRA, A-LINE, AND L-LINE HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 THROUGH APRIL 20, 2009 EQUIPPED WITH TRW IGEN3 INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMNS. THE WELD AROUND THE IGEN3 STEERING SHAFT TUBE THAT SECURES THE SPLINE TUBE TO THE INTERMEDIATE TUBE MAY BE MISLOCATED (I.E., NOT FULLY OVER THE SEAM CREATED WHEN THE TUBES ARE PRESSED TOGETHER.)

Risk. MISLOCATED WELDS MAY RESULT IN TORSIONAL AND AXIAL STRENGTH FALLING BELOW ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE BUSES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel09V086000
Filed Mar 13, 20092 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 2 MY 2008-2009 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA AND STERLING L-LINE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7, C9, C13 AND C15 DIESEL ENGINES. INADEQUATE STIFFNESS OF THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) BRACKET COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE DPF FROM THE CHASSIS.

Risk. A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR IF ANOTHER VEHICLE STRIKES THE DPF ON THE ROADWAY.

Remedy. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR (PLEASE SEE 08E041). OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT-1-800-447-4986 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel09V087000
Filed Mar 13, 200914 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. CATERPILLAR IS RECALLING 14 MY 2008-2009 STERLING A-LINE & L-LINE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINE. THE AFTERTREATMENT REGENERATION DEVICE (ARD) MAY DEVELOP A HOLE AND HEAT AND FLAME MAY ESCAPE DURING A REGENERATION OF THE DIESEL PARTICULAR FILTER.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR (PLEASE SEE 08E-069). OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT-1-800-447-4986 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Equipment
Filed Apr 25, 2014MN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 STERLING L8-500 EQUIPPED WITH A LITTLE FALLS MACHINE INC. SNOW PLOW, MODEL NUMBER PR-114. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE PLOW FEET FELL OFF. THE WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY 65LBS/ THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO RESOLUTION. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TO FOUR OF HIS EIGHT PLOWS. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20100200Routine
2009 — this page1500Routine
200801100Routine
20073800Routine
20060900Routine
20051800Routine
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: Jun 21, 2011. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.