2008 Sterling BULLET 5500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 5 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Air Bags: 5; Steering: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10874160 · 2016-06-14 (June 14, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL WE HAVE VIN [XXX] THAT HAS CURRENT RECALL FL684A-D OUTSTANDING. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES IN THE PAST WITH SEVERAL RECALLS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AND/OR STRETCHED OUT OVER TIME BY SEVERAL DEALERS DUE TO REDIRECTION OF RESPONSIBILITY BY DODGE AND STERLING. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS STUCK AT LONESTAR TRUCK GROUP ? WICHITA FALLS FREIGHTLINER. THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON THE REPAIRS HOWEVER THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE NOR THE SOFTWARE UPDATES. THEY HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH PATTERSON DODGE WICHITA FALLS WHICH R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10874160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903826 · 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL, MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER REFUSES TO DO THIS RECALL AND MY LOCAL FREIGHTLINER DEALER HAS HAD NO SUCCESS IN GETTING THE AIRBAG. IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY CARES THAT PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT RISK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10903826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970643 · 2017-04-05 (April 5, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 STERLING BULLET 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V418000 (AIR BAGS) IN JULY OF 2016. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FREIGHTLINER. WHEN THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL FREIGHTLINER, THEY CALLED HER TO STATE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SEND THEM THE TOOLING COLUMN TOOL. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10970643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11506461 · 2023-02-09 (February 9, 2023)
The contact owns a 2008 Sterling Bullet 5500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V605000 (Steering), 15V361000 (Air Bags) and 16V418000 (Air Bags), however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11529266 · 2023-06-28 (June 28, 2023)
They don’t want to cover my recalls
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11529266 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V418000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
Daimler Trucks of North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Sterling Bullet 4500 and 5500 chassis cab vehicles manufactured October 15, 2007, through November 10, 2008. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity, high temperatures, and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Sterling will notify the owners and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on July 22, 2016. The remedy is now available. Notification was mailed to owners on May 12, 2017. Owners may contact Sterling customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-714.
NHTSA campaign record ↗