Model year record

2002 STERLING Acterra

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 4 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V137000

Power train: axle assembly

Component
Power train: axle assembly
Manufacturer
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA
Vehicles affected
28,764
Reported to NHTSA
2008-03-25
Owners notified
2009-01-08

Defect description

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 FOUR PIECE SPINDLE-NUT SET. THESE AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH A THIN SPINDLE NUT WHICH MAY LEAD TO INCORRECT END PLAY, CONE SPIN, EXCESSIVE HEAT, DEGRADATION OF LUBRICATION, WEAR OF THE SPINDLE NUT AND BEARING JOURNAL, OIL CONTAMINATION WITH METAL SHAVINGS, AND PREMATURE BEARING FAILURE.

Safety risk

CONTINUED OPERATION MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION AND POSSIBLY A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V126000

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan

Component
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Vehicles affected
3,568
Reported to NHTSA
2005-03-30
Owners notified
2005-06-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS CAN RESULT IN FAN BREAKAGE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V272000

Suspension: front: wheel bearing

Component
Suspension: front: wheel bearing
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Vehicles affected
9,602
Reported to NHTSA
2004-06-07
Owners notified
2004-09-07

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V336000

Power train: driveline

Component
Power train: driveline
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
145
Reported to NHTSA
2002-12-13
Owners notified
2003-01-30

Defect description

ON CERTAIN HEAVY TRUCKS, THE CAST OUTPUT YOKE ON THE MERCEDES-BENZ TRANSMISSIONS COULD FRACTURE ON VEHICLE WITH 1610 OR 16T SERIES DRIVELINES.

Safety risk

IF PIECES OF THE YOKE SEPARATE, THE DEBRIS CAN REPRESENT A POTENTIAL HZARD TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE VHEICLE AND TO OTHER PASSING VEHICLES.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAST TRANSMISSION OUTPUT YOKE WITH A FORGED PART. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V318002

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
2,616
Reported to NHTSA
2002-12-03

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3126E HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED UNIT INJECTED DIESEL ENGINES WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY PUMPS (HEP8), THE PUMP COMPONENTS MAY EXPERIENCE A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF ROUGH RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE STALL DUE TO A LOSS OF INJECTION ACTUATION PRESSURE.

Safety risk

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL404. ONCE ENGINE STALL OCCURS, THE ENGINE CANNOT BE RESTARTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PUMP SERIAL NUMBERS AND REPLACE THE PUMP IF NECESSARY. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-800-447-4986 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V108001

Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable

Component
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
548
Reported to NHTSA
2002-04-10

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR BRAND 12" X 4" DCM DRUM PARKING BRAKE, THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FLANGE YOKE ARE TOO LARGE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY DISENGAGE.

Safety risk

IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING BOLTS WITH THE CORRECT SIZE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Exterior lighting110,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch110,000 mi
Suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly110,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer110,000 mi

The 2003 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.