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2007 Sterling Acterra problems

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
11
Service bulletins
106

The worst 2007 Sterling Acterra problems

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

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Recalls 11

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

Engine and engine coolingReported October 8, 2010 · 58 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2010 freightliner business class m2, custom chassis mt45, s2 chassis, and stering acterra vehicles manufactured from october 5, 2006, through may 24, 2010, equipped with epa 2007 mbe 900 detroit diesel engines. Engine software may not react properly to certain aftermarket treatment device fault codes. The software may unnecessarily shutdown a vehicle or may fail to shutdown a vehicle with an aftermarket device over-temp fault.
Risk
Unexpected shutdown of a vehicle may increase the risk of a crash. Overheating of the aftertreatment device without engine shutdown may result in a fire.
Remedy
Daimler trucks will notify owners and repairs will be performed by detroit diesel free of charge. The safety recall began on december 30, 2010. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 10V472000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported July 27, 2010 · 5,743 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2011 freightliner, fccc, sterling, and western star heavy trucks manufactured from september 5, 2006, through june 30, 2010, 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 buses free of charge. Repairs will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 29, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 10V341000 · 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

Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assemblyReported November 13, 2007 · 38,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain truck-tractors equipped with holland simplex se or se ii fifth wheels, the latch lever pivot bolt assembly may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve. Corrosion or contaminates in the pivot may cause it to bind and prevent the fifth wheel jaw from latching securely around the trailer king pin.
Risk
There is a possibility that the fifth wheel may fail to latch without the driver's knowledge. When the occurs, the driver could drive away and the trailer could become disengaged increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer. The recall began on january 3, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V530000 · Recall details

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studsReported August 1, 2007 · 1,042 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks built with axilok rear wheel spindle nuts, the nuts may have been improperly installed, with one or both locking clip tabs not properly engaged or damaged.
Risk
This may reduce the nut's ability to resist rotation, potentially allowing the nut to back off and the dual wheel set to separate from the vehicle, resulting in a crash without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the axilok nuts for locking clip engagement or damage. They will be adjusted or replaced free of charge. The recall began on august 10, 2007. Owners may contact freightliner at 800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V333000 · Recall details

Suspension: rearReported July 24, 2007 · 1,200 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks equipped with tuftrac rear suspensions, the center casting brackets may be out of specification. An out of square casting may have unacceptable stress in the bracket when it is installed and may cause it to crack in service.
Risk
The drive axle may not be held in position if a cracked bracket fractures completely. This will affect vehicle control and may cause a crash without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and castings that are out of specification will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on december 12, 2007. Owners may contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V316000 · Recall details

SteeringReported July 18, 2007 · 18,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Freightliner is recalling certain school bus chassis, heavy trucks, van chassis, rv motorhome chassis manufactured from january 5 to may 17, 2007, equipped with axle alliance company (aac) front axles. During the front axle assembly, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under tightened.
Risk
Incorrectly tightened steering arm fasteners may fatigue and fracture which could cause a crash without warning.
Remedy
Thomas built will notify owners, inspect the fasteners, and replace the steering arm if necessary. The recall began on december 21, 2007. Owners can contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V306000 · 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

Parking brake: conventional: airReported June 12, 2006 · 5,243 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain heavy trucks, shuttle buses, and school buses equipped with bendix modulated spring brake valves. A defect in the modulated spring brake valve casting may cause an intermittent delay in the application of the park brake.
Risk
The vehicle may rollaway without warning, possibly causing personal injury.
Remedy
Freightliner will notify owners and replace the defective valves free of charge. The recall began on june 28, 2006 to freightliner, sterling, and fccc owners. Thomas built mailed letters to owners beginning july 27, 2006. This recall has been superseded (replaced) by recall 07v302 (fl-504).

Recall number 06V205000 · Recall details

See all 11 recalls for the 2007 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

Insecure fifth wheel latchingOpened September 14, 2007, closed November 19, 2007

On november 19, 2007, freightliner filed defect report 07v‑530 which outlines a safety recall program to notify the affected owners and correct the affected vehicles.

PE07047

Technical service bulletins for the 2007 Sterling Acterra 106

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

See all 106 bulletins for the 2007 Sterling Acterra

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Other model years

20022003200520062008

Questions about the 2007 Sterling Acterra

Is the 2007 Sterling Acterra reliable?

Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2007 Sterling Acterra.

What is the most common problem with the 2007 Sterling Acterra?

There are not enough complaints to tell.

How many recalls does the 2007 Sterling Acterra have?

11 recalls, covering service brakes, air, engine and engine cooling and power train.

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