2020 Western Star 4700 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Western Star 4700, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes120.0%
- Driver assistance120.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Engine120.0%
- Steering120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Automated emergency breaking ABS Forward collision warning, potentially others. Unsure if the vehicle is available for inspection due to insurance claim. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Collision mitigation system error. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Police and Insurance representative. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, vehicle was sent to a certified manufacturer maintenance partner for active MIL/check engine lamp. Documentation of services performed describes a situation related to a fault code specifically regarding the collision mitigation system that the technicians were unable to diagnose with the tools available. Vehicle was released without any further modifications. The receipt with written detail is attached to this form.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Automated emergency breaking ABS Forward collision warning, potentially others. Unsure if the vehicle is available for inspection due to insurance claim. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Collision mitigation system error. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Police and Insurance representative. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, vehicle was sent to a certified manufacturer maintenance partner for active MIL/check engine lamp. Documentation of services performed describes a situation related to a fault code specifically regarding the collision mitigation system that the technicians were unable to diagnose with the tools available. Vehicle was released without any further modifications. The receipt with written detail is attached to this form.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Western Star utilizes relay in master power distribution, they call PNDB. When this device is faulty it interrupts the power to engine causing truck engine to shut down. This shut down has happened with the truck fully loaded (71,000 LBS) traveling at 60 mph a couple of times. With no engine power you lose power steering. This is a very dangerous condition that I have discovered is more common than it should be. Talk to any Western Star service department. The Service Department knew exactly what the problem was and related to me this is common.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Western Star utilizes relay in master power distribution, they call PNDB. When this device is faulty it interrupts the power to engine causing truck engine to shut down. This shut down has happened with the truck fully loaded (71,000 LBS) traveling at 60 mph a couple of times. With no engine power you lose power steering. This is a very dangerous condition that I have discovered is more common than it should be. Talk to any Western Star service department. The Service Department knew exactly what the problem was and related to me this is common.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Western Star utilizes relay in master power distribution, they call PNDB. When this device is faulty it interrupts the power to engine causing truck engine to shut down. This shut down has happened with the truck fully loaded (71,000 LBS) traveling at 60 mph a couple of times. With no engine power you lose power steering. This is a very dangerous condition that I have discovered is more common than it should be. Talk to any Western Star service department. The Service Department knew exactly what the problem was and related to me this is common.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .