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2005 Sterling Acterra problems

The most common problem on the 2005 Sterling Acterra is transmission and drivetrain. Its complaint count is close to a typical Acterra model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
101
Worst area
Transmission

The worst 2005 Sterling Acterra problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Transmission
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Transmission
    1

Recalls 6

Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tankReported May 14, 2019 · 741 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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."
Risk
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.

Recall number 19V370000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported August 31, 2011 · 43 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 11V455000 · Recall details

Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported December 17, 2008 · 24,650 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 08V668000 · Recall details

Power train: axle assemblyReported March 25, 2008 · 28,764 vehicles affected
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

Service brakes, air: supply: check valveReported July 16, 2007 · 75,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 07V302000 · Recall details

Suspension: rear: axle: spindleReported March 30, 2005 · 1,564 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks the rear hub bearings may have been incorrectly adjusted.
Risk
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.

Recall number 05V125000 · Recall details

See all 6 recalls for the 2005 Sterling Acterra

Defect investigations

Front wheel separationOpened December 5, 2007, closed March 26, 2008

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 2005 Sterling Acterra 101

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 101 bulletins for the 2005 Sterling Acterra

What 2005 Sterling Acterra owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 28, 2016 · Transmission · 87,384 miles · MN

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.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2005 Sterling Acterra

Is the 2005 Sterling Acterra reliable?

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2005 Sterling Acterra, close to a typical Acterra model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Sterling Acterra?

Transmission and drivetrain, with 1 complaint.

How many recalls does the 2005 Sterling Acterra have?

6 recalls, covering service brakes, air, engine and engine cooling and fuel system, other.

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