Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Sterling L-Line, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
12 Transport Canada recalls for the 2005 Sterling L-Line.
| 2019237 17 May 2019 | Brakes Issue: Certain trucks were built with air reservoir tanks that are too small in relation to the size of the air brake chambers. Canadian regulations require e… |
| 2011345 19 Sept 2011 | Fuel System On certain trucks, the plastic low-pressure fuel line between the engine-mounted fuel filter and the engine block may develop a diesel fuel leak. The location … |
| 2011086 25 Feb 2011 | Fuel System On certain trucks equipped with a car hauler body/chassis, and a Mercedes-Benz EPA04 MBE4000 engine with a fuel filter mounted at the rear of the engine, the lo… |
| 2009270 22 Sept 2009 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a Caterpillar C15 engine, the Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) oil line may wear against the P-clip retaining the oil line. An … |
| 2008436 15 Dec 2008 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, high pressure fuel lines and transfer tubes may fatigue and fracture, causing a diesel fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an igni… |
| 2008078 4 Mar 2008 | Fuel System On certain trucks, the high-pressure fuel line at each injector may fatigue and fracture if a fastener at the end of the line is not properly connected. This w… |
| 2007231 11 Jul 2007 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the internal rubber check valve inside the Bendix SR-7 spring brake modulating valve can become deformed over time. The effect of this def… |
| 2006034 9 Feb 2006 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a Caterpillar engine, the Variable Valve Actuation oil line (VVA line) used on 6 cylinder, 15L turbocharged and air-to-air aft… |
| 2005292 5 Oct 2005 | Steering On certain vehicles, the lower yoke on the steering shaft may have been incorrectly fabricated. If the splines of the steering shaft push through the lower yok… |
| 2005266 14 Sept 2005 | Steering On certain vehicles, the front hubs may fracture and allow the wheel assembly to separate from the vehicle. This could cause a crash without prior warning. Co… |
| 2005076 29 Mar 2005 | Other On certain vehicles, the engine cooling fan may fracture and pieces may separate from the fan blade which could result in vehicle damage and possible personal i… |
| 2005079 29 Mar 2005 | Other On certain vehicles, the rear hub bearings may have been incorrectly adjusted during assembly. Rear axle wheel ends with excessive bearing preload adjustment w… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS THE REAR HUB BEARINGS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Sterling told its dealers about the 2005 Sterling L-Line: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10192963 | Rocker Switch Quick Reference. |
| 10158024 | Technical Publications Ordering |
| 10156372 | Technical Publications Ordering |
| 10156360 | Reminder: Paper Service Bulletin Mailings Are Discontinued |
| 10155254 | Technical Publications Ordering |
| 10151471 | sp00004 Replacing Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Certification Labels |
| 10142283 | 33-11 - Bearing Spacer Replacement, ConMet PreSet Steer Hubs |
| 10142282 | 35-12 - Bearing Spacer Replacement, ConMet PreSet Drive Hubs |
| 10141819 | ssbh9801 Estndares de acabado de pintura |
| 10141818 | ssbh5419 Cambio en el cableado |
| 10141817 | ssbh3306 Ejes delanteros Sterling |
| 10141811 | ssb0917 Modificacin retroactiva de tubera del lado de aire fro del postenfriador |
| 10141810 | sp54030 Ametek Gauge Replacement |
| 10141809 | sp54027 Harness Ordering for EPA07 Vehicles, and Later |
| 10141808 | sp54026 EPA07 Harness Parts Identification |
| 10141807 | sp54023 ICU4 Reference Guide |
| 10141806 | sp54022 ICU4 Black Bezel and Chrome Bezel Gauges |
| 10141805 | sp54021 PTO Dash Control Switch |
| 10141804 | sp54020 Strobe and Beacon Lights |
| 10141803 | sp54018 CB Mounting Plate and Strap |
| 10141802 | sp54017 Sterling Multiplex Gauges |
| 10141799 | sp54013 Adding Daytime Running Lights |
| 10141798 | sp54012 ICU3 Service Clusters |
| 10141797 | sp54011 ABS Chassis Harness, Sterling |
| 10141795 | sp54009 Sales Data Code to Radio Quick Reference |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Leak
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation