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#BS-2002-STEACT-B080

2002 Sterling ActerraProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 4 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Recalls
6
TSBs
7
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 4 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 6 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the LightsHIGH

1 owners reported lights issues — failures commonly reported around 10K miles.

!Inspect the Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latchMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 3 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Lights (1 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Lights1 (25%)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch1 (25%)
Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered Axle Assembly1 (25%)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer1 (25%)

2002 Sterling Acterra: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2002 Sterling Acterra, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 10,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 10K-mile mark.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch Issues

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2002 Sterling Acterra, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered Axle Assembly Issues

Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered Axle Assembly complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2002 Sterling Acterra, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer Issues

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2002 Sterling Acterra, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility:windshield wiper/washer-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (6 recalls)

02V108001

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

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.

02V318002

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3126E HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED UNIT INJECTED DIESEL ENGINES WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY PUMPS (HEP8), THE PUMP COMPONENTS MAY EXPERIENCE A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF ROUGH RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE STALL DUE TO A LOSS OF INJECTION ACTUATION PRESSURE.

02V336000Jan 2003

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

ON CERTAIN HEAVY TRUCKS, THE CAST OUTPUT YOKE ON THE MERCEDES-BENZ TRANSMISSIONS COULD FRACTURE ON VEHICLE WITH 1610 OR 16T SERIES DRIVELINES.

04V272000Sep 2004

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT WITH 8,000 OR 6,000 POUND FRONT AXLES AND FOUR-PIECE SPINDLE NUT SETS, PREMATURE FRONT ,WHEEL BEARING WEAR MAY BE CAUSED BY INCONSISTENT BEARING ENDPLAY ADJUSTMENT.

05V126000Jun 2005

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

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.

+ 1 more recall in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

RQ07003ClosedOpened Dec 2007 · closed Mar 2008

FRONT WHEEL SEPARATION

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 4 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Sterling Acterra Model Years

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994
View all Sterling Acterra years →

2002 Sterling Acterra: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Sterling Acterra?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Sterling Acterra is related to the lights, with 1 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Sterling Acterra reliable?
The 2002 Sterling Acterra has 4 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Sterling Acterra problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Sterling Acterra have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Sterling Acterra has 6 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Sterling Acterra problems start?
Based on 4 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 10,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2002 Sterling Acterra data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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