2005 Sterling Acterra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (1)
Safety recalls (2)
Service Brakes, Air:supply:reservoir/Tank 2019-05-14 · campaign 19V370000 · 741 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Classic, FL80, FLD 120SD, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700, 4900, 6900, Sterling Acterra, L7500, LT7500, L8500, LT8500, L9500, and LT9500 vehicles. The vehicles may have an insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will add air reservoir capacity to the affected vehicles. Owner letters were mailed on November 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-815.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2011-08-31 · campaign 11V455000 · 43 vehicles
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2012 FREIGHTLINER M2, STERLING ACTERRA, 7500 & 8500, AND THOMAS BUILT HDX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2004, THROUGH MARCH 15, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
Risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.
Service bulletins (101)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2021-02-11 · TechTalk8120 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tech talk discussion on mbe900 excessive coolant pressure.
Equipment 2019-02-28 · sbh00022 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
reminder: paper service bulletin mailings are discontinued
Equipment:other:labels 2018-05-01 · sp00004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sp00004 replacing gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) certification labels
Equipment:other:labels 2018-05-01 · sbh0006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sbh0006 replacing gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) certification labels
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2018-02-26 · ssbh9801 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ssbh9801 estándares de acabado de pintura
Electrical System:wiring 2018-02-26 · ssbh5419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ssbh5419 cambio en el cableado
Showing the 6 most recent of 101 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2016-05-28 · Power Train · 87,384 mi“rod connecting clutch pedal to clutch master cylinder broke, resulting in inability to shift gears or safely stop vehicle. this is the third time this has happened in vehicle's life. first time happened in a parking lot, very nearly resulting in a collision. last time happened in company yard. all repairs were done by boyer trucks in minnea…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.