IllustrationThey don’t want to cover my recalls
2008 Sterling Bullet 5500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Bullet 5500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
5 reportsThe 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…
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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.
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 C…
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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 DAIMLER REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FREIGHTLINER STERLING LOCATED IN CLEVELAND, WHICH WAS OVER TWO HOURS AWAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
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
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 ? W…
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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 REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL AS IT IS A STERLING BULLET. DO WE HAVE ANY SOLUTION TO THIS? ANOTHER LOCAL SERVICE FACILITY OR WILL DTNA OFFER SOME OTHER MEANS OF CORRECTING THIS? DUE TO IT BEING A FLEET VEHICLE DRIVEN BY PERSONNEL WE HAVE NO SOLUTION CURRENTLY BUT TO GROUND THE TRUCK DUE TO LIABILITY CONCERNS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
116V418000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.