Total Complaints
1 filings
STERLING A-LINE · model year
2003 STERLING A-LINE
1 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003STERLINGA-LINE carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 A-LINE is fuel system, diesel with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 A-LINE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 1 |
Recalls (2)
05V12600030/03/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
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.
07V30200016/07/2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE
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 SPRI
Recent Complaints
20061012FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY BURST WITHOUT WARNING SPRAYING DIESEL FUEL ONTO THE VEHICLE AND THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FUEL LINES WERE FRACTURED INTO AND NEEDED REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V469000 REMEDY REPAIR TO THE ENGINE BY EMC RECALIBRATION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LIFT PUMP WAS PERFORMED WHICH PERTAINED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER AN ADDITIONAL REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Mileage: 303,087
Compare 2003STERLINGA-LINE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 STERLING A-LINE have?▼
The 2003 STERLING A-LINE has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 STERLING A-LINE?▼
Yes, the 2003 STERLING A-LINE has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 STERLING A-LINE?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 STERLING A-LINE is FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2003 STERLING A-LINE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.