NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Sterling Acterra Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Sterling Acterra has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of October 21, 2026. try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 1998 Sterling Acterra. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Sterling dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Sterling Acterra. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

FREIGHTLINER/ARVINMERITOR/SKF/FRONT AXLE HUBS

NHTSA #03V112000 · Suspension — Front — Hub · NHTSA notice

Reported March 21, 2003 · FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 5,716 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-407 · Owners notified September 20, 2003 · Vehicles built August 1, 1998 – February 28, 2001 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Safety consequence

SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-407.CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FREIGHTLINER/PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #02V108001 · Parking Brake — Conventional — Mechanical — Linkage and Cable · NHTSA notice

Reported April 10, 2002 · FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 548 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-395 · Vehicles built June 1, 1994 – January 31, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING BOLTS WITH THE CORRECT SIZE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FREIGHTLINER/BRAKES

NHTSA #01V085001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components · NHTSA notice

Reported March 12, 2001 · FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 1,350 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-285 · Owners notified March 21, 2002 · Vehicles built September 3, 1998 – March 12, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND A DURAPARK PARK BRAKE SYSTEM MANUFACTURED BY ARVINMERITOR. AIR IS ENTERING THE HYDRAULIC REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS THROUGH AN UNKNOWN PATH AND THE REAR SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES MAY NOT BE OPERATING PROPERLY.

Safety consequence

THIS RESULTS IN SPONGY OR SOFT FEEL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING CAPABILITY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE ABS ECU AND INSPECT THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR PROPER TRAVEL. IF EXCESSIVE TRAVEL IS DETECTED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL BE BLED AND REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED. AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES INSPECTED TO ASSURE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS WILL INCLUDE ADJUSTING AND BLEEDING THE BRAKES. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS THEY SHOULD DO SEVERAL HARD BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHILE STOPPED. THIS WILL EXERCISE THE SELF-ADJUSTING SYSTEM AND IF THEY OBSERVE A LOW OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE IN FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FREIGHTLINER/ABS ECU

NHTSA #00V232002 · Service Brakes, Air — Antilock · NHTSA notice

Reported August 7, 2000 · FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 35,405 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-266 · Owners notified August 29, 2000 · Vehicles built February 13, 1998 – August 3, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2000, TO SCHOOL BUSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE CUSTOMERS. OWNERS OF THE REMAINING POPULATION WERE SENT LETTERS ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Sterling Acterra model years

Check your 1998 Sterling Acterra VIN

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

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