RoadVitals

1997 Sterling Acterra

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 10, 2002
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Sterling Acterra. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
02V108001

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

Apr 10, 2002
548 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The 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.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-395View on NHTSA.gov
00V232002

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

Aug 7, 2000
35,405 units potentially affected
The 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.
The 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.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-266View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-49-13

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DAIMLER TRUCKS: THERE ARE NEW CGI BELLOWS, BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONES ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. *RM

SB-31-4

SUSPENSION

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 WITH STEEL FRAME RAILS. L LINE, A LINE, AND ACTERRA. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 4/4/11. MODEL S2. NO MODEL YEAR. *PE

SB-33-7

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS; STEERING; WHEELS

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 ADDED TO DTNA MAINTENANCE MANUALS FOR ALL MODELS WITH THESE AXLE RATINGS. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

SB-32-16

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

STERLING: CUMMINS ISB DRIVE BELT JUMPING. THE POLY-V SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT MAY JUMP OFF ONE OR MORE OF THE PULLEYS DURING OPERATION. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Sterling Acterra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012010—
2011010—
2010050—
2009060—
20081131—
20070112—
2006272—
2005161—
2004061—
2003241—
2002161—
20010111—
20000171—
1999070—
1998040—
1997Viewing020—
1996010—
1995010—
1994010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.