Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Sterling Acterra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Sterling Acterra has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V455000 GRID HEATER/POSSIBLE FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V173000 UNEXPECTED ENGINE SHUTDOWN NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V472000 UNEXPECTED ENGINE SHUTDOWN NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V341000 GRID HEATER/POSSIBLE FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V451000 ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE/POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V456000 AIR CONDITIONER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V159000 DASH CONTROL VALVES/BENDIX MV-3 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V137000 8K THIN SPINDLE-NUT/ARVINMERITOR/AXLE ALLIANCE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V530000 FIFTH WHEEL LEVER PIVOT BOLTS/HOLLAND SIMPLEX NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V333000 REAR WHEEL SPINDLE NUTS/AXILOK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V316000 REAR SUSPENSION CENTER CASTING/TUFTRAC NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V306000 STEERING ARM/TIE ROD ARM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V302000 SR-7 SPRING BRAKE VALVE ASSEMBLY/BENDIX/PARKER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 1 complaint
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$18,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Sterling ACTERRA has numerous recalls, primarily related to engine and cooling issues, posing potential reliability concerns. Frequent engine-related recalls due to failures like intake air grid heater and software glitches impact its rating. However, owner complaints are minimal, suggesting some variability in individual cases.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intake air grid heater | 60,000–90,000 miles | $800–$1,200 | common |
| Engine control software | 50,000–80,000 miles | $600–$1,000 | common |
| Front axle assembly | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant replacement
- Engine air filter change
- Tire rotation and balance
- Alignment check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating
- Check engine light
- Excessive brake noise
- Unusual suspension noises
- Acceleration hesitation
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Sterling Acterra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.