The Used Car Index

2008 Sterling Bullet problems

NHTSA lists 1 complaints for the 2008 Sterling Bullet, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as STERLING BULLET.

At a glance

Complaints
1
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
5
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
2,601
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
91

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS1100.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

5 recalls.

16V880000

Date: 2016-12-07. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet 4500 and 5500 cab chassis vehicles manufactured November 1, 2007, to November 7, 2008. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may develop a short circuit.

Consequence: If the alternator develops a short circuit, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and DTNA dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-729.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

15V361000

Date: 2015-06-10. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured October 15, 2007, to November 10, 2008. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the driver or other occupants.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-684.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

13V605000

Date: 2013-11-29. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet trucks manufactured October 15, 2007, through November 10, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the left outer tie rod ball stud may fracture.

Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod assembly with a redesigned assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2015. Customers may contact DTNA at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-655.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

11V193000

Date: 2011-03-23. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 STERLING BULLET VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2007, THROUGH NOVEMBER 10, 2008. THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END MAY FRACTURE DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT CONDITION. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE MISALIGNMENT MAY LEAD TO A WEAKENING AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE OF THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BALL STUD.

Consequence: A FRACTURED TIE ROD END COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STEERING STABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH A TWO PART LETTER REGARDING THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND TO INFORM OWNERS THAT THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END WILL BE REPLACED WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

09V074000

Date: 2009-03-06. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 46 MY 2008 STERLING BULLET TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DASH SILENCER PAD THAT COULD SAG AND COME IN CONTACT WITH AN EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BRACKET TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SILENCER PAD ADJACENT TO THE EGR COOLER. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

91 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT49
AIR BAGS8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
ENGINE7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
POWER TRAIN2

10190549

Date: 2021-04-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Warranty Information Letter announcing DTNA is adjusting the Standard Repair Times (SRTs) shown. The updated times will be applied to repair orders opened on or after April 5, 2021.

10156360

Date: 2019-02-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Reminder: Paper Service Bulletin Mailings Are Discontinued

10154895

Date: 2018-12-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

ICI18-039 Takata Recalls ? Dealer Incentive & Owner Incentive Extended

10151585

Date: 2018-09-20. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Takata Recalls ? Letters from State DMVs

10151572

Date: 2018-09-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Takata Recalls ? Dealer Incentive Extended & Owner Incentive Added

10146303

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

If a GVWR certification label is lost or damaged, Freightliner will supply a duplicate label. Log on to DTNAConnect.com and under "DTNAConnect Resources", select the "Tool and Services" plus sign. Select "Request for Certification Labl or OWI." Fillout the form, then select "Review."

10151464

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

sbh0006 Replacing Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Certification Labels

10151471

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

sp00004 Replacing Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Certification Labels

10141564

Date: 2018-04-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

ICI18-007 Takata Recalls - Dealer Incentive Extended

10145111

Date: 2018-04-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

ICI18-007 Takata Recalls ? Dealer Incentive Extended

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
BULLET1

Same model, other years

All model years | All Sterling models

Other Sterling models, 2008

Sources

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