- 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
2002 Sterling Acterra Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2002 Sterling Acterra with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (1) and the lights (1). It is covered by 6 recalls, the latest in March 2008 for the axle assembly. For comparison, the 2001 has 0 and the 2003 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Acterra year, for its age
#439 most complained-about 2002 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2002 Sterling Acterra problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2002 Sterling Acterra recalls 6
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 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 caterpillar 3126e hydraulically controlled electronically actuated unit injected diesel engines with high efficiency pumps (hep8), the pump components may experience a high pressure seal failure which can result in a short period of rough running and subsequent engine stall due to a loss of injection actuation pressure.
- The risk
- Freightliner recall no. Fl404. Once engine stall occurs, the engine cannot be restarted, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will inspect the pump serial numbers and replace the pump if necessary. 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 caterpillar at 1-800-447-4986 or 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.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 2002 Sterling Acterra
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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
Sterling Acterra: every year compared
All Acterra years2002 Sterling Acterra vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Sterling Acterra | 1 | 6 | C | |
| 2002 Sterling Sterling | 1 | 0 | B | 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 2002 Sterling Acterra
Does the 2002 Sterling Acterra have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2002 Sterling Acterra: axle assembly (March 2008); fan (March 2005); wheel bearing (June 2004); driveline (December 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.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Sterling Acterra?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (1), lights (1), visibility & wipers (1).
How many complaints has the 2002 Sterling Acterra had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 14, 2004 and the latest on September 14, 2004. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2002 Sterling Acterra a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 48 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as 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 2002 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