Recall 11V173 covers 50 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra and Business Class M2 emergency vehicles for engine-software shutdown and fire risks. Repair is free.
Sterling recall 11V173 covers 50 2008-2009 Acterra and Business Class M2 emergency vehicles with EPA 2007 MBE 900 Detroit Diesel engines. Engine software can shut down the vehicle unexpectedly or fail to shut it down during an aftertreatment over-temperature fault, raising crash or fire risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The affected 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra and Business Class M2 emergency vehicles use engine software to manage the EPA 2007 MBE 900 Detroit Diesel engine and its treatment-device safeguards. The software reads fault codes, which are electronic messages that tell the engine controller when a monitored part has a problem.
In this recall, the software does not respond correctly to certain aftermarket treatment device fault codes. It can shut the vehicle down when a shutdown is not needed, or fail to shut the vehicle down when the aftermarket device reports an over-temperature fault. That means the controller is making the wrong decision from the fault-code information it receives.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is in how the software reacts to the fault code, so an owner or driver is not given a separate symptom that reliably appears before the shutdown behavior occurs.
Who's affected?
Includes Acterra and Business Class M2 trucks from the 2008 and 2009 model years, all tied to engine and engine cooling.
| 2009 Sterling Acterra | Engine and engine cooling |
|---|---|
| 2009 Freightliner Business Class M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Sterling Acterra | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Freightliner Business Class M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| Units affected | 50 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific truck.
What's the safety risk?
An unexpected vehicle shutdown can increase crash risk. If the aftertreatment device overheats while the engine keeps running, the condition can result in a fire. Schedule the recall repair and use caution if the vehicle loses power or shuts down. Repair will be free at any franchised Sterling dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra or Business Class M2 emergency vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact Sterling customer service at 1-800-547-0712 for current repair instructions before scheduling service.
- Reference recall number 11V173 when you call or when you speak with the service desk.
- Ask whether Detroit Diesel will perform the free engine-software repair that addresses unexpected shutdown and aftertreatment overheat faults.
- Avoid putting the vehicle in service until Sterling confirms the repair path for your VIN.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, the service desk confirms that the 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra or Business Class M2 is included in campaign 11V173, then routes the repair through Detroit Diesel. The work is tied to the EPA 2007 MBE 900 Detroit Diesel engine software, which the recall says fails to respond correctly to certain aftermarket treatment device fault codes. The final dealer repair will be free once available. Ask the Sterling service desk how the Detroit Diesel repair is handled for your vehicle and whether the truck needs to stay parked until the work is complete.
Timeline
| March 15, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 25, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V173?
Recall 11V173 covers 50 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra and Business Class M2 emergency vehicles with EPA 2007 MBE 900 Detroit Diesel engine software. The software can react incorrectly to aftertreatment fault codes, which can cause an unexpected shutdown or fail to shut down during an over-temp fault.
What should I do if my 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra or Business Class M2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific emergency vehicle is included in recall 11V173. If it is, contact a Sterling service desk or Detroit Diesel-authorized repair location and reference recall number 11V173. The required engine software repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and this recall states that Detroit Diesel performs the repair free of charge. Ask the service desk to confirm the software update tied to recall 11V173 before the appointment.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unexpected engine shutdown or aftertreatment overheating. An unexpected shutdown can increase crash risk, and overheating of the aftertreatment device without engine shutdown can result in a fire. The free repair corrects the engine software response to those fault codes.
What if I bought this emergency vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2008-2009 Sterling Acterra or Business Class M2 is included, then reference recall number 11V173 when you contact the service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V173000 |
|---|---|
| Sterling customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V173 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V173000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →