2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

1 reports

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Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2013

StructureInjury

AFTER HAVING THE TOW TRUCK FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, THE DASH OF THE TOW TRUCK BEGAN TO BREAK EVERYWHERE UP TO SPLIT IN SEVERAL PLACES OF THE SAME. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE FUSE BOX FELL OFF CAUSING THE IMPACT TO THE FOOT OF A CUSTOMER WHO WAS MOUNTED ON THE TOW TRUCK AT THE TIME. THERE IS ANY CHANCE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING A…

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AFTER HAVING THE TOW TRUCK FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, THE DASH OF THE TOW TRUCK BEGAN TO BREAK EVERYWHERE UP TO SPLIT IN SEVERAL PLACES OF THE SAME. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE FUSE BOX FELL OFF CAUSING THE IMPACT TO THE FOOT OF A CUSTOMER WHO WAS MOUNTED ON THE TOW TRUCK AT THE TIME. THERE IS ANY CHANCE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN PARTICULAR OF THE TOW TRUCK. THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS SITUATION RELATED TO THE DASH BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS NOT ALONE WITH MY TOW TRUCK AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OTHERS STERLING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE DEALERS ALL THEY SAY IS THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. THE CABLES INSIDE THE DASH HAVE BEEN PEELING, THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE DASH. WHEN PEELED GONE CABLES CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE SYSTEM AND THIS IS WORRYING BECAUSE IN THE WAKE OF THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE INSIDE THE TOW TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551204

Official recalls

1

05V185000 · Wheels

Apr 27, 2005

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ACCURIDE ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY PRE-STRESSED. THIS ALLOWS CRACKS TO DEVELOP OVER TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO WHEEL FAILURE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ07003 · Front Wheel Separation

Opened Dec 5, 2007 · Closed Mar 26, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:hub; Suspension:front:wheel Bearing ; Wheels:hub

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).

Additional source detail variants (3)

Suspension:front:hub

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).

Suspension:front:wheel Bearing

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).

Wheels:hub

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).