2003 Sterling Acterra
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Sterling › Acterra › 2003
These records cover every 2003 Sterling Acterra. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 2003 Sterling Acterra. Newest first.
Daimler trucks IS recalling 28,764 my 2001 through 2008 fccc B2 and FS65 school bus chassis, fccc FB65 conventional buses, and sterling acterra, freightliner fln, and business class M2 heavy trucks, built from january 26, 2000, through march 24, 2008, manufactured with arvinmeritor or axle alliance company 6,000 through 8,000 pound front axles utilizing a…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Continued operation may lead to wheel separation and possibly a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Daimler trucks will notify owners and will repair the vehicles free of charge. the recall began on january 8, 2009. owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
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 spring brake modulating valve can break apart. pieces of the…
Risk and remedy
Risk
These conditions could either result in leakage and cause a delay in the application of the spring brake without warning or possibly lead to unintended vehicle rollaway or brake drag which could result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or death.
Remedy
Freightliner will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. the recall began on january 11, 2008 to freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis owners; to thomas built bus owners on february 1, 2008. owners can contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This can result in fan breakage, resulting in vehicle damage or personal injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan free of charge. the recall began on june 8, 2005. owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
On certain trucks built with 8,000 or 6,000 pound front axles and four-piece spindle nut sets, premature front ,wheel bearing wear may be caused by inconsistent bearing endplay adjustment.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If allowed to progress, the front wheel assembly may separate from the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Remedy
The dealers will replace the front axle oil seals and hub cap gaskets on both sides. the recall began september 7, 2004. owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Owner complaints
2 complaints
Latest complaints
- Suspension › Front
TL* the contact owns a 2003 sterling acterra. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the front passenger wheel detached from the vehicle and destroyed a nearby fence. The vehicle was previously repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign ID number 04v272000…
TL* the contact owns a 2003 sterling acterra. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the front passenger wheel detached from the vehicle and destroyed a nearby fence. The vehicle was previously repaired under the recall associated with nhtsa campaign ID number 04v272000 (suspension:front:wheel bearing), but the failure had since recurred in 2009 and 2011.the failure mileage was 119,000 and the current mileage was 215,000.
- Suspension › Front › Wheel bearing
Dt: contact received manufacturer recall fl-424 saying to take the truck to a dealer. When she called dealer to make an appointment dealer said he needed to order the recall part. When she called back he said that part wasn't in yet. The third time she called dealer said he had not ordered…
Dt: contact received manufacturer recall fl-424 saying to take the truck to a dealer. When she called dealer to make an appointment dealer said he needed to order the recall part. When she called back he said that part wasn't in yet. The third time she called dealer said he had not ordered the part yet, and he needed to see the truck first before he ordered the part, and he was going to charge contact for taking the car apart and putting it back together again. Also, he would have to charge them for the part in order to get the part overnight. contact did not want want to take vehicle back to the dealer because he was saying that it will take a week to get the work done. she said her recall letter stated it should take two hours to do the repairs. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Front wheel separation
Odi IS closing this investigation based on daimler truck north america 's (dtna) march 19, 2008, defect notification report which outlines dtna's intention to campaign 28,764 freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis vehicles [equipped with either arvinmeritor or axle alliance company 6,000 - 8,000 pound…
Odi IS closing this investigation based on daimler truck north america 's (dtna) march 19, 2008, defect notification report which outlines dtna's intention to campaign 28,764 freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis vehicles [equipped with either arvinmeritor or axle alliance company 6,000 - 8,000 pound rated front axle assemblies utilizing a four piece spindle nut set] manufactured between january 26, 2000, and march 24, 2008.dtna has proposed providing a remedy for the currently installed four piece spindle nut systems which may lead to incorrect end play, [bearing] cone spin, excessive heat, degradation of lubrication, wear of the spindle nut [backface] and bearing journal, oil contamination with metal shavings, and premature bearing failure.continued operation may lead to a wheel separation.odi has relieved dtna of the responsibility to provide the information requested as part of this rq so that dtna could focus their efforts on investigation of the wheel separation issues and planning and implementing a responsive and timely field action (campaign).
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10141804sp54020 Strobe and Beacon Lights
- 10038247Daimler trucks: there are new cgi bellows, because the current ones are prone to failure.
- 10031704Sterling truck: airliner suspension six piece bolted service crossmember. Six piece bolted service cross members are an improved, more durable service replacement for five piece welded cross members, or bolted five piece service cross members, to be used with steel frame rails. L line, a line, and acterra. No model years listed. Updated 4/4/11. Model S2. No model year.
- 10029347Sterling:steer axle maintenance, aac and meritor 6000 lb and 8000 lb axles. The axles include models-meritor mfs-08, mfs-06, an aac (mba) f080-2n (AF-8-2, AF-6-2) FC-1. This bulletin IS to provide information on the recommended maintenance procedure to be added to dtna maintenance manuals for all models with these axle ratings. Model years unknown.
- 10028710Sterling: some barksdale height control valves have been returned for warranty because four bolts in the valve housing were overtightened, often, enough to crack the valve housing. Model years unknown.
- 10026125Sterling: cummins isb drive belt jumping. The poly-v serpentine drive belt may jump off one or more of the pulleys during operation.
- 10025545Cruise control inoperative when the hazard warning lights are activated. Affects certain sterling a-line, l-line and acterra vehicles built after february 23, 2001.
Every Sterling Acterra model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.