2005 Sterling ACTERRA: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 87,384 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871326 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS THE REAR HUB BEARINGS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED.

Consequence: THE REAR AXLE WHEEL ENDS WITH EXCESSIVE BEARING PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT WILL OVERHEAT AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE REAR WHEEL END INSTALLATION TO VERITY BEARING ADJUSTMENT AND REPAIR TRUCKS WITH DAMAGED BEARINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 2005 OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2007-07-16 (July 16, 2007)

CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, HEAVY TRUCKS, AND THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2002 AND JULY 3, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE CONTROL VALVES. THE PARKER SCV BRASS 90 DEGREE SINGLE CHECK VALVES (SCV) WHICH ATTACH TO THE SUPPLY PORT OF A BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE CAN BREAK APART. PIECES OF THE PARKER SCV CAN BECOME LODGED INSIDE THE SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING EITHER LEAKAGE OUT OF THE SR-7 VALVE OR PREVENTING AIR FROM PROPERLY EXHAUSTING FROM THE SR-7 VALVE. ALSO, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE INSIDE THE SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES, THE VALVES CAN BECOME DEFORMED AND NOT SEAT PROPERLY.

Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD EITHER RESULT IN LEAKAGE AND CAUSE A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKE WITHOUT WARNING OR POSSIBLY LEAD TO UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY OR BRAKE DRAG WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2008 TO FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS OWNERS; TO THOMAS BUILT BUS OWNERS ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-03-25 (March 25, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 28,764 MY 2001 THROUGH 2008 FCCC B2 AND FS65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, FCCC FB65 CONVENTIONAL BUSES, AND STERLING ACTERRA, FREIGHTLINER FLN, AND BUSINESS CLASS M2 HEAVY TRUCKS, BUILT FROM JANUARY 26, 2000, THROUGH MARCH 24, 2008, MANUFACTURED WITH ARVINMERITOR OR AXLE ALLIANCE COMPANY 6,000 THROUGH 8,000 POUND FRONT AXLES UTILIZING A FOUR PIECE SPINDLE-NUT SET. THESE AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH A THIN SPINDLE NUT WHICH MAY LEAD TO INCORRECT END PLAY, CONE SPIN, EXCESSIVE HEAT, DEGRADATION OF LUBRICATION, WEAR OF THE SPINDLE NUT AND BEARING JOURNAL, OIL CONTAMINATION WITH METAL SHAVINGS, AND PREMATURE BEARING FAILURE.

Consequence: CONTINUED OPERATION MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION AND POSSIBLY A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 8, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-12-17 (December 17, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING 24,650 SCHOOL AND NON-SCHOOL BUSES, MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 9, 2004 THROUGH AUGUST 18, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 CERTIFIED MBE900 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED BY DETROIT DIESEL BETWEEN MARCH 1, 2004, AND JULY 31, 2006. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE.

Consequence: A FRACTURED FUEL LINE MAY LEAK DIESEL FUEL POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR FUEL MAY BE SPILLED ON THE ROAD CAUSING A SLIPPERY SURFACE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DETROIT DIESEL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED WITH MORE ROBUST LINES AND VIBRATION DAMPERS FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED DETROIT DIESEL DISTRIBUTORSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL 1-313-592-3708 OR DTNA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Reported: 2011-08-31 (August 31, 2011)

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.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2019-05-14 (May 14, 2019)

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."

Consequence: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: 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.