U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Sterling ACTERRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

141,604 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	1	50.0%
Braking behavior	1	50.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control

Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008

2008: 2

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10216372 · 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 STERLING ACTERRA. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND, WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT BECAME STUCK. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HIT 2 OTHER VEHICLES. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216372 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records

100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records

100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Engine And Engine Cooling	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10234506 · 3,500 mi AIR DRYER ON 2008 ACTERRA TRUCKS. THE NEW SYSTEM ON THE ENGINE ALLOWS EXHAUST SOOT INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR RECEIVES ITS AIR FROM THE BOTTOM SIDE ON THE INTAKE. THE PROBLEM IS THIS SOOT IS BUILDING IN THE PURGE VALVE ON THE AD9 AIR DRYER AND CAUSING AIR TO LEAK OUT OF BOTTOM OF DRYER. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON BOTH 2008 TRUCKS AND CAUSING PROBLEM WITH AIR PRESSURES. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO DEALER AND HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE IT UP WITH FREIGHTLINER. *TR Look up ODI 10234506 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Exterior Lighting	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10079824 · 10,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10079824 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10079824 · 10,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10079824 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10871326 · 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 MINNEAPOLIS. LAST REPAIR LASTED 1-1/2 YEARS, 13,000 MILES BEFORE ROD BROKE AGAIN. Look up ODI 10871326 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Suspension:Front	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10413970 · 119,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 10413970 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10126502 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 O… Look up ODI 10126502 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Suspension:Rear:Axle:Non-Powered Axle Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10079824 · 10,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10079824 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10216372 · 141,000 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 STERLING ACTERRA. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND, WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT BECAME STUCK. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. LJ THE CONSUMER HIT 2 OTHER VEHICLES. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. Look up ODI 10216372 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Vehicle Speed Control	Too few reports for a range	141,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10216372 · 141,000 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 STERLING ACTERRA. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND, WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT BECAME STUCK. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000. UPDATED 02/15/08. LJ THE CONSUMER HIT 2 OTHER VEHICLES. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. Look up ODI 10216372 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal	Too few reports for a range	142,208 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10219196 · 142,208 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 STERLING ACTERRA. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED, BUT WOULD NOT STOP. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE WAS CRUSHED IN AND SUSTAINED $1,800 WORTH OF DAMAGE. ONE OF THE TWO VEHICLES AS WELL AS THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,208. UPDATED 03/11/08. LJ Look up ODI 10219196 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2011: 0 complaints · 2012: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2011	0	0	0
2012	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2011	0	0	0
2012	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Vehicle Speed Control	Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Vehicle Speed Control	—	0
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 141,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10216372 · 141,000 mi

Look up ODI 10216372 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule