By year
Owner complaints about Western Star vehicles peaked at 5 in 2014
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 1999 to 2026. 2026 runs through October.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints and recalls files. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Make
Western Star
The complete NHTSA record for Western Star vehicles: owner complaints, recall campaigns, defect investigations and manufacturer communications, for every model and model year on file.
Most Western Star recalls are filed by Daimler Truck.
Owner complaints in the last five years1551 on file in all, across 26 models
Recall campaigns18039 in five years
Severity index27.5Crash, fire, injury or death per 100 complaints
Investigations102,544 service bulletins
Components
Brakes draws the most owner complaints about Western Star vehicles, 14% of them
Share of all owner complaints on file, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI.
Models
The 4900 has the most complaints of any Western Star model
Every Western Star model with complaints or recalls on file, by complaints. Counts are not rates: NHTSA publishes no sales volumes.
| Model | Model years | Complaints | Severity index | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4900 | 1994 to 2024 | 17 | 23.5 | 236 | 20 |
| 4700 | 2002 to 2024 | 6 | 50.0 | 127 | 21 |
| 5700 | 2002 to 2022 | 4 | 25.0 | 86 | 30 |
| 4964 | 1999 | 4 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Conventional | 1983 to 1999 | 3 | 33.3 | 63 | 0 |
| 47X | 2017 to 2027 | 3 | 66.7 | 55 | 0 |
| Western Star | 1982 to 2003 | 3 | 0.0 | 27 | 2 |
| Constellation | 1995 to 2019 | 3 | 0.0 | 11 | 3 |
| 4900EX | 2003 to 2007 | 3 | 0.0 | 5 | 2 |
| 49X | 2017 to 2027 | 2 | 50.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 6900 | 1994 to 2023 | 1 | 0.0 | 73 | 17 |
| 496 | 1996 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5900 | 1994 to 2018 | 0 | None | 20 | 0 |
| 57X | 2021 to 2026 | 0 | None | 11 | 0 |
| 4900 SA | 2002 to 2011 | 0 | None | 10 | 10 |
| 4800 | 1994 to 2021 | 0 | None | 9 | 0 |
| Heritage | 1995 to 1999 | 0 | None | 8 | 0 |
| Truck Tractor | 1987 to 1992 | 0 | None | 6 | 0 |
| 5800 | 1997 to 2002 | 0 | None | 4 | 0 |
| 4900FA | 2000 to 2004 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| 4900SA | 2003 to 2004 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| Solar | 1999 to 2000 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| WJ121 | 2020 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| 48X | 2022 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| WF110 | 2021 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| WH126 | 2021 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Recall counts add campaigns across model years, so a campaign covering three years counts three times.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns listing a Western Star product
- 26V-583 Sep 9, 2026
Brake modulator valves on the front axle may corrode and cause the vehicle to pull to one side during braking initiated by Electronic Stability…
Stability and traction control · 2,404 vehicles - 26V-079 Feb 11, 2026
Stud connecting the battery to the starter at the frame rail may have been incorrectly installed or may corrode, which can cause a short circuit
Electrical system · 27k vehicles - 25V-760 Nov 4, 2025
Axle clamp fasteners may be loose, which can result in a loss of vehicle control
Suspension · 19k vehicles - 25V-603 Sep 11, 2025
Tie rod castle nut and cotter pin may not be installed properly, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control
Steering · 343 vehicles - 25V-601 Sep 11, 2025
Brake caliper mounting bolts may loosen and detach, which can cause a loss of brake function and damage the tire and/or wheel
Brakes · 402 vehicles - 25V-326 Jun 23, 2025
Stud connecting the battery to the starter at the frame rail may have been incorrectly installed, which can cause a short circuit
Electrical system · 22k vehicles - 25V-295 May 7, 2025
Air tank capacity may be too small, resulting in reduced braking performance
Brakes · 68 vehicles - 25V-187 Mar 25, 2025
Software error in the advanced signal and actuator module for the automatic emergency braking system may cause the brake lights to fail to illuminate
Lighting · 1,968 vehicles - 24V-736 Oct 1, 2024
Fuel pump barrels may fracture and cause a fuel leak, which can result in an engine stall
Fuel system · 620 vehicles - 24V-668 Sep 10, 2024
Brake lights may not illuminate when the brakes are automatically applied during an active brake assist (ABA) event
Lighting · 17k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.