Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2002 Sterling Acterra peaked in 2004, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2002 Sterling Acterra
Truck, diesel, 4x2, built in Canada. Owner complaints on file from Sep 14, 2004 to Sep 14, 2004.
Recall campaigns covering this model year645k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints1Close to the median 2002 truck
Severity index0.02002 trucks average 10.4
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
100% of complaints about the 2002 Sterling Acterra name lighting
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
6 recall campaigns cover the 2002 Sterling Acterra
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08V-137 | Mar 25, 2008 | These axle assemblies may have been produced with a thin spindle nut which may lead to incorrect end play, cone spin, excessive heat, degradation… | Powertrain | 28,764 | Repair or modification |
| 05V-126 | Mar 30, 2005 | On certain trucks and fire trucks equipped with kys 4735-43782-02 engine cooling fans and built on caterpillar 3126, c7, mbe906, mbe926, or… | Engine and cooling | 3,568 | Part replacement |
| 04V-272 | Jun 7, 2004 | 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… | Suspension | 9,602 | Part replacement |
| 02V-336 | Dec 13, 2002 | On certain heavy trucks, the cast output yoke on the mercedes-benz transmissions could fracture on vehicle with 1610 or 16t series drivelines | Powertrain | 145 | Part replacement |
| 02V-318-002 | Dec 3, 2002 | On certain trucks equipped with caterpillar 3126e hydraulically controlled electronically actuated unit injected diesel engines with high… | Fuel system | 2,616 | Part replacement |
| 02V-108-001 | Apr 10, 2002 | 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… | Brakes | 548 | Part replacement |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2002 Sterling Acterra
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
1 complaint on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Sep 14, 2004Failure Jun 23, 200410,000 milesHouston, TXExterior lighting, Latch, Non-powered axle assembly, Windshield wiper/washer
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON, AFTER 15 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BOX LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON, WHEN TURNED OFF, THEY WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AGAIN AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT AND THE WASHER FLUID WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WERE INTERMITTENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE 15 WATT FUSES WOULD GET TOO HOT. THE REAR TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAKED. *SC
NHTSA complaint 10079824
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on file
- RQ07003 Recall query, Suspension
FRONT WHEEL SEPARATION
Opened Dec 5, 2007, closed Mar 26, 2008 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
7 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- sp54020 Feb 26, 2018 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sp54020 Strobe and Beacon Lights - SB-49-13 Mar 1, 2011 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
DAIMLER TRUCKS: THERE ARE NEW CGI BELLOWS, BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONES ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. *RM - SB-31-4 Dec 1, 2010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
STERLING 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 … - SB-33-7 Jul 6, 2009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
STERLING: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 A… - SB-32-16 Feb 1, 2009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
STERLING: 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. *PE - 01-37 Jul 1, 2008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
STERLING: CUMMINS ISB DRIVE BELT JUMPING. THE POLY-V SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT MAY JUMP OFF ONE OR MORE OF THE PULLEYS DURING OPERATION. *PE - 54-56 Apr 1, 2008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE WHEN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. AFFECTS CERTAIN STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE AND ACTERRA VEHICLES BUILT AFTER FEBRUARY 23, 2001. *PE
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.