NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Freightliner dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra, describing incidents dated September 8, 2011.

Most-cited components

Structure 1 complaint

The complaint on file reports 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10551204 · Filed November 6, 2013
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…

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NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ07-003: FRONT WHEEL SEPARATION
Closed March 26, 2008
- Recall 08V-137

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

ALUMINUM WHEELS/ACCURIDE

NHTSA #05V185000 · Wheels · NHTSA notice

Reported April 27, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 3,500 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-448 · Owners notified October 21, 2005 · Vehicles built February 20, 2005 – March 20, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-448.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra.

Structure

ODI #10551204

1 injury

Incident: September 8, 2011 · Filed: November 6, 2013

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

Check your 2005 Freightliner Sterling Acterra VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Freightliner Sterling Acterra at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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