2006 Sterling Acterra Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2006 Sterling Acterra has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 169,017 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 19V370000 2019-05-14 741 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11V455000 2011-08-31 43 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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…

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 08V668000 2008-12-17 24,650 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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…

POWER TRAIN 08V137000 2008-03-25 28,764 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

TRAILER HITCHES 07V530000 2007-11-13 38,000 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 07V302000 2007-07-16 75,000 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

VISIBILITY 05V550000 2005-12-06 1,819 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VISTEON WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence

AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TEETH TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Complaints by component

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1
1crashes
Total complaints2

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Tl*the contact owns a 2006 sterling acterra. The contact shifted into drive and, when he depressed the accelerator pedal, it became stuck. He depressed the brake pedal as hard as possible, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact stated that this occurred once before while attempting to back…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2008-01-25

“Tl*the contact owns a 2006 sterling acterra. While backing the vehicle into the garage, the contact placed the vehicle into drive and it accelerated, but would not stop. The accelerator pedal was stuck and would not release. The contact struck two other vehicles. The entire passenger side was…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · reported 2008-01-25

Defect investigations

Investigation PE07047 Opened 2007-09-14 · closed 2007-11-19

INSECURE FIFTH WHEEL LATCHING

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.

Investigation RQ07003 Opened 2007-12-05 · closed 2008-03-26

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…

Investigation RQ07003 Opened 2007-12-05 · closed 2008-03-26

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…

Investigation RQ07003 Opened 2007-12-05 · closed 2008-03-26

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2006 Sterling Acterra as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.