2004 Sterling L-Line: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2004 Sterling L-Line. The newest campaign is 11V478000. NHTSA received the report on 16 Sep 2011. The NHTSA record gives the component Fuel System, Diesel. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 11V478000, in the NHTSA record

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.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

8 campaigns, newest first. 209,545 units in total.

11V47800016 Sep 2011Fuel System, Diesel
09V36600023 Sep 2009Engine and Engine Cooling
08V66800017 Dec 2008Fuel System, Other / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
07V30200016 Jul 2007Service Brakes, Air / Supply / Check Valve
06V0300008 Feb 2006Engine and Engine Cooling
05V12800030 Mar 2005Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
05V12600030 Mar 2005Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Fan
05V12500030 Mar 2005Suspension / Rear / Axle / Spindle

11V478000Received 16 Sep 2011. 73,500 units.
Fuel System, Diesel
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA. Manufacturer campaign number 11C-2. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 21 Feb 2012.
09V366000Received 23 Sep 2009. 25,362 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
An oil leak may result in a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA. Manufacturer campaign number FL-558.
08V668000Received 17 Dec 2008. 24,650 units.
Fuel System, Other / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A fractured fuel line may leak diesel fuel possibly resulting in a fire or fuel may be spilled on the road causing a slippery surface, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Detroit diesel will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired with more robust lines and vibration dampers free of charge. Repairs will be performed by authorized detroit diesel distributorships. The recall began on march 9, 2009. Owners may contact detroit diesel 1-313-592-3708 or dtna toll-free at 1-800-547-0712 for more information.
Report filed by DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA. Manufacturer campaign number FL-542. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 9 Mar 2009.
07V302000Received 16 Jul 2007. 75,000 units.
Service Brakes, Air / Supply / Check Valve
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC. Manufacturer campaign number FL-504. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 11 Jan 2008.
06V030000Received 8 Feb 2006. 5,771 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The oil line may be cut on the cylinder head causing an oil leak and a possible fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Caterpillar, in conjunction with freightliner, will be conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign free of charge. Owners may call caterpillar at 309-675-6496, or freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Report filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC. Manufacturer campaign number FL-471. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Apr 2006.
05V128000Received 30 Mar 2005. 130 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain car haulers equipped with mbe4000 engines, the clutch control cable may wear a hole into the fuel line, creating a fuel leak.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will inspect the fuel line and replace it if necessary free of charge. The recall began on december 8, 2005. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Report filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC. Manufacturer campaign number FL-443. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 8 Dec 2005.
05V126000Received 30 Mar 2005. 3,568 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Fan
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain trucks and fire trucks equipped with kys 4735-43782-02 engine cooling fans and built on caterpillar 3126, c7, mbe906, mbe926, or cummins isc engines, the steel fan insert on the cooling fans can crack.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This can result in fan breakage, resulting in vehicle damage or personal injury.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan free of charge. The recall began on june 8, 2005. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Report filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC. Manufacturer campaign number FL-439. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 8 Jun 2005.
05V125000Received 30 Mar 2005. 1,564 units.
Suspension / Rear / Axle / Spindle
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain trucks the rear hub bearings may have been incorrectly adjusted.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The rear axle wheel ends with excessive bearing preload adjustment will overheat and may cause a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will check the rear wheel end installation to verity bearing adjustment and repair trucks with damaged bearings. The recall began on april 7, 2005 owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Report filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC. Manufacturer campaign number FL-442. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 7 Apr 2005.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

The NHTSA investigation file has no investigation that names this model year.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 2004 Sterling L-LineThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 2004 Sterling L-Line: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/sterling/l-line/2004/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2004 Sterling L-Line?: 209,545 units in 8 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Sterling L-Line have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns for the Sterling L-Line, model years 1998 to 2010. 8 of them name the 2004 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2004 Sterling L-Line open?: The NHTSA investigation file has no investigation that names this model year.