The worst 2008 Sterling L-Line problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 11
Fuel system, diesel
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 11V478000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 11V330000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 09V366000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 09V086000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 09V087000 · Recall details
Parking brake: conventional: air
- What is wrong
- Daimler trucks is recalling 900 my 2008 freightliner argosy, argosy rhd, cascadia, columbia, century st, coronado, sterling acterra, l-line and western star 4900 trucks equipped with bendix mv-3 dash control valves. The molded valve body has an incorrect core pin in the injection mold causing the valve body to be oversized in the double check valve area. This condition can allow the rubber double check valve to become lodged in the body opening under certain circumstances.
- Risk
- If the double check valve becomes lodged, in the event of a primary reservoir failure, air pressure can leak past the lodged double check valve thereby depleting the secondary reservoir, causing reduced ability for modulating the service emergency brakes increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the mv-3 dash valve for the production date code. Valves in the affected production lots will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on october 9, 2008. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.
Recall number 08V159000 · Recall details
Steering: gear box: shaft sector
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks equipped with trw steering gears, models tas85 and rcs85, these steering gears contain potentially defective sector shafts with an incorrect gear tooth which may interfere with the rack-piston teeth, resulting in a stick or bind condition.
- Risk
- This condition has the potential to cause the steering gear to stall and restrict the steering turning angle of the vehicle which could result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Freightliner is working with trw to replace the defective steering gear (please see 07e101). The recall began on april 18, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.
Recall number 07V592000 · Recall details
Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly
- What is wrong
- On certain truck-tractors equipped with holland simplex se or se ii fifth wheels, the latch lever pivot bolt assembly may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve. Corrosion or contaminates in the pivot may cause it to bind and prevent the fifth wheel jaw from latching securely around the trailer king pin.
- Risk
- There is a possibility that the fifth wheel may fail to latch without the driver's knowledge. When the occurs, the driver could drive away and the trailer could become disengaged increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer. The recall began on january 3, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.
Recall number 07V530000 · Recall details
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks built with axilok rear wheel spindle nuts, the nuts may have been improperly installed, with one or both locking clip tabs not properly engaged or damaged.
- Risk
- This may reduce the nut's ability to resist rotation, potentially allowing the nut to back off and the dual wheel set to separate from the vehicle, resulting in a crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the axilok nuts for locking clip engagement or damage. They will be adjusted or replaced free of charge. The recall began on august 10, 2007. Owners may contact freightliner at 800‑547‑0712.
Recall number 07V333000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- Freightliner is recalling certain school bus chassis, heavy trucks, van chassis, rv motorhome chassis manufactured from january 5 to may 17, 2007, equipped with axle alliance company (aac) front axles. During the front axle assembly, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under tightened.
- Risk
- Incorrectly tightened steering arm fasteners may fatigue and fracture which could cause a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Thomas built will notify owners, inspect the fasteners, and replace the steering arm if necessary. The recall began on december 21, 2007. Owners can contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.
Recall number 07V306000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: check valve
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 07V302000 · Recall details
See all 11 recalls for the 2008 Sterling L-Line
Defect investigations
Insecure fifth wheel latching
On november 19, 2007, freightliner filed defect report 07v‑530 which outlines a safety recall program to notify the affected owners and correct the affected vehicles.
PE07047
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Sterling L-Line 149
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Warranty Information Letter announcing DTNA is adjusting the Standard Repair Times (SRTs) shown
- Reminder: Paper Service Bulletin Mailings Are Discontinued
- Sp00004 Replacing Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Certification Labels
- Sp54001 Power Distribution Box, Instrument Panel
- Sp54002 Power Distribution Box, Chassis
- Sp54007 Customer Access Connectors
- Sp54008 2-Inch Gauge Quick Reference (Silver Star)
- Sp54009 Sales Data Code to Radio Quick Reference
- Sp54011 ABS Chassis Harness, Sterling
- Sp54012 ICU3 Service Clusters
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Questions about the 2008 Sterling L-Line
Is the 2008 Sterling L-Line reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2008 Sterling L-Line.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Sterling L-Line?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2008 Sterling L-Line have?
11 recalls, covering fuel system, diesel, electrical system and engine and engine cooling.
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