STERLING ACTERRA · model year

2008 STERLING ACTERRA

1 NHTSA complaints, and 13 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008STERLINGACTERRA carries 1 consumer safety complaint 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 2008 ACTERRA is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings. 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 13 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 2008 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.

1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

1 filings

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

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recalls (13)

11V45500031/08/2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 HEAT

10V34100027/07/2010

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

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

09V45100024/11/2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 FREIGHTLINER M2, CUSTOM CHASSIS MT55, AND STERLING ACTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 4, 2007 AND JULY 15, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISC CM2150 AND ISL CM2150 MODEL DIESEL ENGINES. THE VEHICLES MAY BE DESIGNED WITH A HARD W

07V31600024/07/2007

SUSPENSION:REAR

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.

09V45600019/11/2009

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CUES, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 SERVICE VEHICLES BUILT ON VARIOUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER AIRV CEILING UNITS, MODEL NOS. 68RV0010BA, 68RV0012CA, AND 68RV0010EA. THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THESE ASSEMBLIES MAY BE DEFECTIVE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE UNIT TO CREATE SMOKE OR SPARKS.

07V30600018/07/2007

STEERING

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

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

11V17300015/03/2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 AND STERLING ACTERRA EMERGENCY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 18, 2006, THROUGH JULY 7, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH EPA 2007 MBE 900 DETROIT DIESEL ENGINES. ENGINE SOFTWARE MAY NOT REACT PROPERLY TO CERTAIN AFTE

07V53000013/11/2007

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

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 LATCH

08V15900009/04/2008

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 900 MY 2008 FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY, ARGOSY RHD, CASCADIA, COLUMBIA, CENTURY ST, CORONADO, STERLING ACTERRA, L-LINE AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX MV-3 DASH CONTROL VALVES. THE MOLDED VALVE BODY HAS AN INCORRECT CORE PIN IN THE INJECTION MOLD CAUSING THE V

10V47200008/10/2010

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 REA

07V33300001/08/2007

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

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.

Recent Complaints

20080716ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AIR DRYER ON 2008 ACTERRA TRUCKS. THE NEW SYSTEM ON THE ENGINE ALLOWS EXHAUST SOOT INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR RECEIVES ITS AIR FROM THE BOTTOM SIDE ON THE INTAKE. THE PROBLEM IS THIS SOOT IS BUILDING IN THE PURGE VALVE ON THE AD9 AIR DRYER AND CAUSING AIR TO LEAK OUT OF BOTTOM OF DRYER. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON BOTH 2008 TRUCKS AND CAUSING PROBLEM WITH AIR PRESSURES. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO DEALER AND HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE IT UP WITH FREIGHTLINER. *TR

Mileage: 3,500

Compare 2008STERLINGACTERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 STERLING ACTERRA have?
The 2008 STERLING ACTERRA has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 STERLING ACTERRA?
Yes, the 2008 STERLING ACTERRA has 13 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 STERLING ACTERRA?
The most-complained component for the 2008 STERLING ACTERRA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2008 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.