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2004 Sterling Acterra Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2004 Sterling Acterra. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

5 safety recalls for the 2004 Sterling Acterra

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 08V668000 Reported 24,650 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

    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 lines and transfer…

    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…

  2. Axle assembly (power train)

    NHTSA 08V137000 Reported 28,764 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

    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 through 8,000 pound…

    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.

  3. Check valve (service brakes)

    NHTSA 07V302000 Reported 75,000 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    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 modulating valve can break…

    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,…

  4. Spindle (suspension)

    NHTSA 05V125000 Reported 1,564 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    On certain trucks the rear hub bearings may have been incorrectly adjusted.

    Remedy: Dealers will check the rear wheel end installation to verity bearing adjustment and repair trucks with damaged bearings. The recall began on april 7, 2005 owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

  5. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 05V126000 Reported 3,568 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan free of charge. The recall began on june 8, 2005. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 2004 Sterling Acterra. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Sterling Acterra model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Sterling Acterra model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 Sterling Acterra10
1995 Sterling Acterra10
1996 Sterling Acterra10
1997 Sterling Acterra20
1998 Sterling Acterra40
1999 Sterling Acterra70
2000 Sterling Acterra170
2001 Sterling Acterra110
2002 Sterling Acterra61
2003 Sterling Acterra42
2004 Sterling Acterra50
2005 Sterling Acterra61
2006 Sterling Acterra72
2007 Sterling Acterra110
2008 Sterling Acterra131
2009 Sterling Acterra60
2010 Sterling Acterra50
2011 Sterling Acterra10
2012 Sterling Acterra10

Checking a specific 2004 Sterling Acterra

How do I know if my 2004 Sterling Acterra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2004 Sterling Acterra; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Sterling dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V125000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Sterling models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.