2006 Sterling Acterra Recall

Certain trucks were built with air reservoir tanks that are too small in relation to the size of the air brake chambers. Canadian regulations require enough air reservoir capacity to ensure the brakes work even with heavy use or when there is a partial loss of the air system.

Reduced braking could cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.

The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their truck to a Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facility to modify the truck to ensure it meets Canadian regulations.

On certain vehicles equipped with an MBE900 (EPA04 and EPA07) engine, the intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail. This could result in a vehicle fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will install an additional external relay to prevent battery connection to the grid heater when the vehicle is not running and when grid heater control signal is absent.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, high pressure fuel lines and transfer tubes may fatigue and fracture, causing a diesel fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel lines and transfer tubes with more robust versions.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, incorrect spindle nuts may have been installed during vehicle assembly. This could cause incorrect end play, cone spin, excessive heat, degradation of lubrication, wear of the spindle nut and bearing journal, oil contamination with metal shavings, and premature bearing failure. Continued operation could lead to wheel separation, which could result in a vehicle crash. As well, this situation creates the risk that nearby bystanders or motorists be struck by a wayward wheel assembly. Either of these concerns could cause property damage, personal injury, or death. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the fifth wheel hitch assembly's lever arm may have been incorrectly installed during the manufacturing process. The lever arm pivot bolt may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve and prevent the fifth wheel latch jaw from closing and latching securely around the trailer king pin. This could allow the towed unit to separate from the towing vehicle while underway, potentially causing a crash with injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the internal rubber check valve inside the Bendix SR-7 spring brake modulating valve can become deformed over time. The effect of this defect is intermittent and presents a potential delay or failure in applying the parking brakes; potentially resulting in a vehicle roll away. Should this occur, the unattended roll away vehicle could strike a bystander or cause property damage. Correction: Dealers will install a check valve repair kit.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease applied to the output shaft gear. After a period of continuous use on the high-speed setting, lack of grease may cause the gear teeth to distort and/or fracture during operation, resulting in the loss of wiper function. Depending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the wiper motor assembly.

A failure of this component (electrical) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, a manufacturing defect of the front axle I-beam top flange may result in a reduction of axle service life. The axle I-beam may fatigue and fracture, causing a possible loss of vehicle control and subsequent crash without prior warning. Correction: Dealers will replace the front axle assembly.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the rear spindles may fracture as a result of incorrect heat treat process during vehicle assembly. Rear spindle failure could allow the wheel, tire, and brake drum assembly to separate from the vehicle. The wheel end assembly could become a hazard for other traffic. Correction: Dealers will inspect for the heat treat date code on the end of the rear spindles. Axle housings will be replaced on vehicles manufactured with spindles that have the subject date codes.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).