Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2003 Sterling Acterra peaked in 2005, 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
2003 Sterling Acterra
Truck, diesel, 4x2, built in Canada. Owner complaints on file from Jun 24, 2005 to Jul 21, 2011.
Recall campaigns covering this model year4117k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints2Close to the median 2003 truck
Severity index0.02003 trucks average 7.7
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
100% of complaints about the 2003 Sterling Acterra name suspension
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
4 recall campaigns cover the 2003 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 |
| 07V-302 | Jul 16, 2007 | Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped… | Brakes | 75,000 | 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 |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2003 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.
2 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Jul 21, 2011Failure Jan 1, 2006119,000 milesPine Lake, GAFront
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.
NHTSA complaint 10413970 - Filed Jun 24, 2005Failure Jun 24, 2005Bakersfield, CAWheel 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 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
NHTSA complaint 10126502
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.