Total Complaints
4 filings
STERLING ACTERRA · model year
2002 STERLING ACTERRA
4 NHTSA complaints, and 6 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002STERLINGACTERRA carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2002 ACTERRA is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1) and suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 ACTERRA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recalls (6)
05V12600030/03/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
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.
08V13700025/03/2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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
02V33600013/12/2002
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
ON CERTAIN HEAVY TRUCKS, THE CAST OUTPUT YOKE ON THE MERCEDES-BENZ TRANSMISSIONS COULD FRACTURE ON VEHICLE WITH 1610 OR 16T SERIES DRIVELINES.
02V10800110/04/2002
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
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.
04V27200007/06/2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
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.
02V31800203/12/2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3126E HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED UNIT INJECTED DIESEL ENGINES WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY PUMPS (HEP8), THE PUMP COMPONENTS MAY EXPERIENCE A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF ROUGH RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE
Recent Complaints
20040624VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON, AFTER 15 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BOX LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON, WHEN TURNED OFF, THEY WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AGAIN AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT AND THE WASHER FLUID WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WERE INTERMITTENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE 15 WATT FUSES WOULD GET TOO HOT. THE REAR TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAKED. *SC
Mileage: 10,000
20040624LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON, AFTER 15 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BOX LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON, WHEN TURNED OFF, THEY WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AGAIN AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT AND THE WASHER FLUID WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WERE INTERMITTENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE 15 WATT FUSES WOULD GET TOO HOT. THE REAR TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAKED. *SC
Mileage: 10,000
20040624SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON, AFTER 15 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BOX LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON, WHEN TURNED OFF, THEY WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AGAIN AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT AND THE WASHER FLUID WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WERE INTERMITTENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE 15 WATT FUSES WOULD GET TOO HOT. THE REAR TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAKED. *SC
Mileage: 10,000
20040624EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON, AFTER 15 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR, THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BOX LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON, WHEN TURNED OFF, THEY WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AGAIN AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT AND THE WASHER FLUID WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF. THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WERE INTERMITTENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT THE 15 WATT FUSES WOULD GET TOO HOT. THE REAR TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAKED. *SC
Mileage: 10,000
Compare 2002STERLINGACTERRA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA have?▼
The 2002 STERLING ACTERRA has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA?▼
Yes, the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH and SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2002 STERLING ACTERRA; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.