Total Complaints
2 filings
STERLING ACTERRA · model year
2003 STERLING ACTERRA
2 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003STERLINGACTERRA carries 2 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 ACTERRA is suspension:front:wheel bearing with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 ACTERRA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
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 |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
Recalls (4)
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
07V30200016/07/2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE
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 SPRI
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.
Recent Complaints
20110721SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 STERLING ACTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DESTROYED A NEARBY FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V272000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING), BUT THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED IN 2009 AND 2011.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
Mileage: 119,000
20050624SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DT: CONTACT RECEIVED MANUFACTURER RECALL FL-424 SAYING TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A DEALER. WHEN SHE CALLED DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT DEALER SAID HE NEEDED TO ORDER THE RECALL PART. WHEN SHE CALLED BACK HE SAID THAT PART WASN'T IN YET. THE THIRD TIME SHE CALLED DEALER SAID HE HAD NOT ORDERED THE PART YET, AND HE NEEDED TO SEE THE TRUCK FIRST BEFORE HE ORDERED THE PART, AND HE WAS GOING TO CHARGE CONTACT FOR TAKING THE CAR APART AND PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. ALSO, HE WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE THEM FOR THE PART IN ORDER TO GET THE PART OVERNIGHT. CONTACT DID NOT WANT WANT TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE HE WAS SAYING THAT IT WILL TAKE A WEEK TO GET THE WORK DONE. SHE SAID HER RECALL LETTER STATED IT SHOULD TAKE TWO HOURS TO DO THE REPAIRS. *AK
Compare 2003STERLINGACTERRA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 STERLING ACTERRA have?▼
The 2003 STERLING ACTERRA has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 STERLING ACTERRA?▼
Yes, the 2003 STERLING ACTERRA has 4 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 2003 STERLING ACTERRA?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 STERLING ACTERRA is SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 2003 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 as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.