NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Sterling Bullet Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Sterling Bullet has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Sterling dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Sterling Bullet. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Sterling Bullet owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2008 Sterling Bullet, describing incidents dated June 9, 2016.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10985914 · Filed May 16, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 STERLING BULLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V418000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE…

Read the full complaint

Alternator may Fail Resulting in Engine Stall/Fire

NHTSA #16V880000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported December 7, 2016 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 235 vehicles

Repair completion: 35.34% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-729 · Owners notified February 1, 2017 · Vehicles built November 1, 2007 – November 7, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #15V361000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported June 10, 2015 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 2,601 vehicles

Repair completion: 36.4% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-684 · Owners notified October 6, 2015 · Vehicles built October 15, 2007 – November 10, 2008 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Left Outer Tie Rod may Fracture

NHTSA #13V605000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported November 29, 2013 · Daimler Trucks North America

Potentially affected: 2,564 vehicles

Repair completion: 35.79% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-655 · Owners notified July 24, 2015 · Vehicles built October 15, 2007 – November 10, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

TIE ROD ENDS

NHTSA #11V193000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2011 · DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

Potentially affected: 2,564 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-588 · Owners notified March 26, 2011 · Vehicles built October 15, 2007 – November 10, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

DAIMLER SAFETY RECAL NO. FL-588.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE/STERLING/CHRYSLER

NHTSA #09V074000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported March 6, 2009 · DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

Potentially affected: 46 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-546 · Owners notified April 15, 2009 · Vehicles built January 1, 2007 – November 5, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

DAIMLER TRUCKS RECALL NO. FL-546.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Sterling Bullet. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Sterling Bullet.

Air Bags

ODI #10985914

Incident: June 9, 2016 · Filed: May 16, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 STERLING BULLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V418000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OFFERED A CALL BACK TO NOTIFY OF WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Other Sterling Bullet model years

Check your 2008 Sterling Bullet VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Sterling Bullet at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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