- The problem
- On certain trucks built with 8,000 or 6,000 pound front axles and four-piece spindle nut sets, premature front ,wheel bearing wear may be caused by inconsistent bearing endplay adjustment.
- The risk
- If allowed to progress, the front wheel assembly may separate from the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
- The fix
- The dealers will replace the front axle oil seals and hub cap gaskets on both sides. The recall began september 7, 2004. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle safety record
2000 Sterling Acterra Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2000 Sterling Acterra have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 17 recalls, the latest in June 2004 for the wheel bearing.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Acterra year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 17
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2000 Sterling Acterra recalls 17
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- On certain heavy trucks, the cast output yoke on the mercedes-benz transmissions could fracture on vehicle with 1610 or 16t series drivelines.
- The risk
- If pieces of the yoke separate, the debris can represent a potential hzard to people outside the vheicle and to other passing vehicles.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the cast transmission output yoke with a forged part. Owner notification began on january 30, 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.
- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
- The problem
- On certain trucks, the welds that attach the rear suspension control rod brackets to the axle housing may not meet specifications.
- The risk
- A weld could fracture, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with certain haldex brake system two and four port relay valves. The valve may stick open when a high-pressure application is released.
- The risk
- When the valve sticks open, it can result in a total loss of air from either the service or the park brake system. The driver may lose braking ability under a service application, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace these valves. Owner notification began october 17, 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with chalmers 1000 and 800 series suspension kits. These suspension kits may have insufficient penetration of the weld attaching the torque rod eye to the torque rod tube.
- The risk
- Failure of the weld could result in separation of the eye and tube, causing a lock of axle retention, which could result in loss of vehicle control.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace all chalmers fixed torque rods on these vehicles. Owner notification began march 14, 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This results in spongy or soft feel to the brake pedal and a loss of rear braking capability.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. An undersized ground wire for the defroster blower motor switch can cause the switch to overheat and fail.
- The risk
- THIS RESULTS IN A LOSS OF THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the defroster blower motor switch ground wire. Owner notification began may 21, 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. Incorrect wiring of the instrument lighting dimmer switch can cause it to fail.
- The risk
- This can result in a loss of the instrument cluster lighting.
- The fix
- Dealers will correct the wiring for the instrument lighting dimmer switch. Owner notification began may 29, 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. A support clamp was omitted from the front axle hydraulic brake line from the chassis to the brake.
- The risk
- The brake line could come loose resulting in the risk of brake fluid leakage, increasing the stopping distances for the vehicle.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a support clamp on the front axle hydraulic brake lines.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The upper steering column pinch bolt may not have been properly torqued.
- The risk
- Loss of steering control can occur if the bolt falls out.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the upper steering column pinch bolt for correct torque and re-torque if necessary.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks, shuttle buses, transit buses and step vans equipped with allison 1000 or 2400 series transmissions. These transmissions can experience park pawl to rear cover interference due to an out of flatness condition.
- The risk
- This could cause non-engagement of the park pawl when the transmission shift selector is moved to the park position, resulting in unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
- The fix
- Allison transmission is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will remove the transmission from the vehicle, replace the park pawl, and reinstall the transmission in the vehicle. Owner notification is expected to begin during september 2000. 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 allison at 1-800-252-5283 or freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- 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 fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with arvinmeritor mfs-8 series front axle assemblies. The wheel bearing nut adjustment assembly may 1) restrict a complete lubrication fill at assembly and/or 2) shear the spindle perforated washer's locking tab (located in the inside diameter of the washer) when tightened. If the washer tab is sheared, tightening of the outer spindle nut may cause the bearings to be excessively preloaded rather than the intended .001" - .005" End play. Either of these conditions may cause premature wheel bearing failure.
- The risk
- A premature wheel bearing failure could result in separation of the wheel assembly from the vehicle and result in loss of vehicle control.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the front axle spindle nuts and washers with a redesigned system.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with accuride 22.5 X 8.25 15 Tubeless demountable rims, part no. 32051. Certain rims contain a non-fusion area in the butt-weld of the mounting ring. Under certain circumstances, the defect could develop into a crack on the mounting ring.
- The risk
- Over time, the crack could propagate and if not heeded, could result in mounting ring failure, potentially causing the rim to separate from the vehicle.
- The fix
- Accuride will inspect and replace the defective or suspect wheel rims.
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No complaints about the 2000 Sterling Acterra yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Sterling Acterra: every year compared
All Acterra years2000 Sterling Acterra vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Sterling Acterra | 0 | 17 | F | |
| 2000 Sterling LT | 2 | 1 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2000 Sterling Acterra
Does the 2000 Sterling Acterra have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 17 recalls for the 2000 Sterling Acterra: wheel bearing (June 2004); hub (March 2003); driveline (December 2002); linkage and cable (April 2002) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2000 Sterling Acterra had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2000 Sterling Acterra a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 17 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Sterling Acterra year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Sterling Acterra years have the most complaints?
2003 (2), 2006 (2), 2002 (1). See every Sterling Acterra year compared.
What should I do if my 2000 Sterling Acterra has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data