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Campaign 19V370 Posted May 14, 2019 741 units

2004-2019 Sterling Trucks Recall 19V370: Air Brake Defect

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 24, 2026

Recall 19V370 affects 741 2004-2019 Freightliner, Sterling, and Western Star trucks for insufficient brake air reservoir capacity. Free repair once Daimler opens it.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 741 model year 2004-2019 Freightliner, Sterling, and Western Star trucks under recall 19V370 because the service brake air reservoirs do not hold enough volume to meet federal air-brake standards. Reduced brake effectiveness raises the risk of a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once the remedy is finalized.

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What's wrong?

On a heavy truck, the air brake system uses compressed air instead of hydraulic fluid to push the brake shoes against each wheel. Air is stored in reservoir tanks on the frame and released into brake chambers at each wheel when the driver presses the pedal. The tanks have to hold enough air to apply the brakes hard, repeatedly, without running the system dry.

On affected Freightliner, Sterling, and Western Star trucks, the air reservoir tanks are sized too small for the brake chambers they feed. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121 requires a 12 to 1 ratio between tank volume and chamber volume. These configurations fall below that ratio, so the tanks can be drained faster than the air compressor refills them during heavy or repeated braking.

There is no warning sign before failure. A driver will not notice the shortfall until a long downhill grade or a series of hard stops pulls system pressure down faster than expected.

Who's affected?

Covers 20 distinct Sterling, Freightliner, and Western Star heavy-truck models built across 16 model years, all sharing the same air-brake supply reservoir component.

2005 Sterling Acterra brake system
2006 Sterling Acterra brake system
2007 Sterling Acterra brake system
2006 Sterling LT9500 brake system
2007 Sterling LT9500 brake system
Units affected741
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included in this recall.

What's the safety risk?

Insufficient air reservoir volume reduces brake effectiveness and lengthens stopping distance, which raises the risk of a crash. Treat any change in brake response as a reason to schedule the repair soon and keep the vehicle off long or heavy hauls until the fix is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Sterling dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2019 Freightliner, Sterling, or Western Star truck is included in this recall.
  2. Watch for the owner letter from DTNA. The remedy is still under development, so the dealer cannot complete the repair yet.
  3. Contact a franchised Daimler Trucks North America dealer (Freightliner, Sterling, or Western Star) to register your VIN for the air-reservoir-capacity service, which corrects the insufficient brake air volume.
  4. Call DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions, and reference recall number 19V370 (DTNA recall FL-815) when you call.
  5. Drive cautiously until the repair. Leave extra following distance and avoid hard braking to reduce stress on the service brakes.

What happens at the repair

Sterling's final dealer repair is still under development. Once the remedy opens, a Sterling technician will add air reservoir capacity to the service brake system so the vehicle meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121 for air brake systems. Parts and labor will be free under the recall once available. Reimbursement is handled through the manufacturer's standard reimbursement plan. If you've already paid out of pocket for related air reservoir work, bring your receipts and repair documentation to the service desk, or contact DTNA customer service to ask how to submit them for review.

ReimbursementReimbursement available

Timeline

May 14, 2019 NHTSA published the recall
July 12, 2019 Dealer notification began
July 12, 2019 Dealer notification ended
July 12, 2019 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)
June 25, 2021 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 19V370?

Recall 19V370 covers 741 2004-2019 Freightliner, Sterling, and Western Star heavy trucks with insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity. The shortfall fails Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121 for air brake systems and can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing crash risk. Daimler Trucks North America dealers will add air reservoir capacity at no cost.

What should I do if my 2004-2019 Freightliner, Sterling, or Western Star truck is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 19V370. If it is, contact a franchised Daimler Trucks North America dealer to schedule the air reservoir capacity addition. Reference recall number 19V370 or DTNA's internal number FL-815 when you call. Owners can also reach DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost to the owner. Daimler Trucks North America dealers will add the additional air reservoir capacity free of charge at any franchised dealer, regardless of where the truck was originally purchased or how many owners it has had.

What if I bought my truck used?

The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If DTNA never mailed you a notice, check your VIN to confirm your truck is included in recall 19V370, then contact a franchised dealer. Reference recall number 19V370 or FL-815 when you call.

When will I be notified about this recall?

Daimler Trucks North America mailed owner notification letters on November 29, 2021. If you did not receive a letter, that does not mean your truck is excluded, ownership records can be out of date for older heavy-duty vehicles. Check your VIN to confirm inclusion, then call DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with any questions.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V370000
Sterling customer service1-800-547-0712
NHTSA recall #19V370
NHTSA recall # (full)19V370000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →