The worst 2001 Sterling Acterra problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 11
Power train: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 08V137000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This can result in fan breakage, resulting in vehicle damage or personal injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 05V126000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: wheel bearing
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- If allowed to progress, the front wheel assembly may separate from the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 04V272000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: hub
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 03V112000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline
- What is wrong
- On certain heavy trucks, the cast output yoke on the mercedes-benz transmissions could fracture on vehicle with 1610 or 16t series drivelines.
- Risk
- If pieces of the yoke separate, the debris can represent a potential hzard to people outside the vheicle and to other passing vehicles.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 02V336000 · Recall details
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Improper engagement of the parking brake could result in the vehicle rolling away without prior warning possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 02V108001 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks, a capacitor in the power line control (plc) filter could overheat and/or ignite when subjected to reverse polarity electrical spikes.
- Risk
- This could cause an electrical fire in the area of the plc filter without prior warning.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 02V087000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: check valve
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 02V018002 · Recall details
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks, the welds that attach the rear suspension control rod brackets to the axle housing may not meet specifications.
- Risk
- A weld could fracture, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 01V363000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: controls, pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 01V189001 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This results in spongy or soft feel to the brake pedal and a loss of rear braking capability.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 01V085001 · Recall details
See all 11 recalls for the 2001 Sterling Acterra
Defect investigations
Front wheel separation
Odi is closing this investigation based on daimler truck north america 's (dtna) march 19, 2008, defect notification report which outlines dtna's intention to campaign 28,764 freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis vehicles [equipped with either arvinmeritor or axle alliance company 6,000 - 8,000 pound rated front axle assemblies utilizing a four piece spindle nut set] manufactured between january 26, 2000, and march 24, 2008.dtna has proposed providing a remedy for the currently installed four piece spindle nut systems which may lead to incorrect end play, [bearing] cone spin, excessive heat, degradation of lubrication, wear of the spindle nut [backface] and bearing journal, oil contamination with metal shavings, and premature bearing failure.continued operation may lead to a wheel separation.odi has relieved dtna of the responsibility to provide the information requested as part of this rq so that dtna could focus their efforts on investigation of the wheel separation issues and planning and implementing a responsive and timely field action (campaign).
RQ07003
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 Sterling Acterra 7
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Sp54020 Strobe and Beacon Lights
- Daimler trucks: there are new cgi bellows, because the current ones are prone to failure. rm
- Sterling truck: airliner suspension six piece bolted service crossmember. six piece bolted service cross...
- Sterling:steer axle maintenance, aac and meritor 6000 lb and 8000 lb axles. the axles include...
- Sterling: some barksdale height control valves have been returned for warranty because four bolts in the...
- Sterling: cummins isb drive belt jumping. the poly-v serpentine drive belt may jump off one or more of the...
- Cruise control inoperative when the hazard warning lights are activated. affects certain sterling a-line,...
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Questions about the 2001 Sterling Acterra
Is the 2001 Sterling Acterra reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2001 Sterling Acterra.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Sterling Acterra?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2001 Sterling Acterra have?
11 recalls, covering power train, engine and engine cooling and suspension.
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