1999 Sterling Acterra

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 7 times.

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Hub03V112000
Filed Mar 21, 20035,716 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Risk. SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 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.

Parking Brake › Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and Cable02V108001
Filed Apr 10, 2002548 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. 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.

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

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.

Suspension › Rear01V363000
Filed Nov 29, 2001219 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ROD BRACKETS TO THE AXLE HOUSING MAY NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.

Risk. A WELD COULD FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION BRACKET WELDS TO DETERMINE IF THEY MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND RE-WELD IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 31, 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.

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly01V140007
Filed Sep 17, 200175,000 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.

Risk. THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2001. 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components01V085001
Filed Mar 12, 20011,350 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND A DURAPARK PARK BRAKE SYSTEM MANUFACTURED BY ARVINMERITOR. AIR IS ENTERING THE HYDRAULIC REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS THROUGH AN UNKNOWN PATH AND THE REAR SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES MAY NOT BE OPERATING PROPERLY.

Risk. THIS RESULTS IN SPONGY OR SOFT FEEL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING CAPABILITY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE ABS ECU AND INSPECT THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR PROPER TRAVEL. IF EXCESSIVE TRAVEL IS DETECTED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL BE BLED AND REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED. AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES INSPECTED TO ASSURE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS WILL INCLUDE ADJUSTING AND BLEEDING THE BRAKES. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS THEY SHOULD DO SEVERAL HARD BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHILE STOPPED. THIS WILL EXERCISE THE SELF-ADJUSTING SYSTEM AND IF THEY OBSERVE A LOW OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE IN FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 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.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar00V172000
Filed Aug 23, 200022,499 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED.

Risk. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAN OCCUR IF THE BOLT FALLS OUT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND RE-TORQUE IF NECESSARY.

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock00V232002
Filed Aug 7, 200035,405 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20120100Routine
20110100Routine
20100500Routine
20090600Routine
200811300Routine
200701100Routine
20062700Routine
20051600Routine
20040600Routine
20032400Routine
20021600Routine
200101100Routine
200001700Routine
1999 — this page0700Routine
19980400Routine
19970200Routine
19960100Routine
19950100Routine
19940100Routine

Compare every Acterra year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 21, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.