Vehicle recall 16V418000 · June 9, 2016
Sterling Bullet 4500 and Bullet 5500
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.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- 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.
- Notes
- Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 16V418000
- Reported to NHTSA
- June 9, 2016
- Filed by
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC
- Manufacturer campaign
- FL-714
- Owner notification
- May 12, 2017
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 2,601
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Sterling Bullet 4500 (2008-2009): 2009, 2008
- Sterling Bullet 5500 (2008-2009): 2009, 2008
Has your Sterling been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Sterling dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.