- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Continued operation may lead to wheel separation and possibly a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2001 Sterling Acterra Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2001 Sterling Acterra have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 11 recalls, the latest in March 2008 for the axle assembly.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Acterra year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2001 Sterling Acterra recalls 11
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 and fire trucks equipped with kys 4735-43782-02 engine cooling fans and built on caterpillar 3126, c7, mbe906, mbe926, or cummins isc engines, the steel fan insert on the cooling fans can crack.
- The risk
- This can result in fan breakage, resulting in vehicle damage or personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan free of charge. The recall began on june 8, 2005. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
- 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.
- 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, a capacitor in the power line control (plc) filter could overheat and/or ignite when subjected to reverse polarity electrical spikes.
- The risk
- This could cause an electrical fire in the area of the plc filter without prior warning.
- The fix
- Dealers will disconnect and secure the plc filter ground wire. Owner notification began september 20, 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 heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor wabco pneumatic anitlock brake system (abs) valve packages, the assembly bolts on these valve packages were not tightened correctly.
- The risk
- Bolts torqued below specification will not reliably prevent air leakage at the affected abs valve package interface joints once the component begins normal vehicle operation. If air leaks develop at any of the abs valve package interface joints, brake system pressure reductions could occur during braking or normal operation with units equipped with the traction control option, potentially extending stopping distances, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will tighten the fasteners to the proper specification. Owner notification began april 4, 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: 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 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.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2001 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 years2001 Sterling Acterra vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Sterling Acterra | 0 | 11 | D | |
| 2001 Sterling L-Line | 1 | 1 | A | 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 2001 Sterling Acterra
Does the 2001 Sterling Acterra have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2001 Sterling Acterra: axle assembly (March 2008); fan (March 2005); wheel bearing (June 2004); hub (March 2003) 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 2001 Sterling Acterra had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2001 Sterling Acterra a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 29 out of 100 (grade D: 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 2001 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