RoadVitals

1998 Western Star 4900

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Sep 20, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Mar 21, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Western Star 4900, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels2100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V112000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

Mar 21, 2003
5,716 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
The risk: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-407View on NHTSA.gov
01V387000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Dec 17, 2001
3,500 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3406E AND C-15 ENGINES, INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND STUD MOUNTING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) TO THE ENGINE EXISTS. CHAFING CAN WEAR THROUGH THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE STUD.
The risk: THIS CONTACT COULD PROVIDE A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND THE BATTERY CABLES WILL BE REPLACED AND/OR RE-ROUTED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-387View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 20, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @30 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND TORE UP THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE THE MATE TO THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS DEFECTED TO. SO IT SEEMS AS IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTED. BOTH TIRES WERE BOUGHT AND PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME. KELLY GOODYEAR BALLOON TYPE STEER TIRES (ARMORSTEEL)

NHTSA ID
10765384
Incident
Aug 28, 2015
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 20, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @30 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND TORE UP THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE THE MATE TO THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS DEFECTED TO. SO IT SEEMS AS IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTED. BOTH TIRES WERE BOUGHT AND PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME. KELLY GOODYEAR BALLOON TYPE STEER TIRES (ARMORSTEEL)

NHTSA ID
10765383
Incident
Aug 28, 2015

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

sbw0014

EQUIPMENT

Operating Hours for the Customer Assistance Center

54-39

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WESTERN STAR: PYROMETER THERMOCOUPLE, AMMETER SHUNT, FUEL LEVEL, AND OTHER SENSOR INPUTS MAY BE CONNECTED TO THE RX MODULE. NO MODEL YEARS WERE PROVIDED. *JS

SBW-4714

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WESTERN STAR: FUEL TANKS ROTATING IN SADDLES. ANTI-SLIP MATERIAL MAY NEED TO BE INSTALLED, OR AN ADDITIONAL STRIP OF RUBBER. *JS

SB-49-12

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

WESTERN STAR: AROUND THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CRYSTAL OR POWDER BUILT UP INDICATES A LEAK CAUSED BY EVAPORATION OF DEF EXPOSED TO AIR AND/OR DAMPNESS. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Western Star 4900 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024000—
2023040—
2022070—
2021090—
2020170—
20191150—
20180161—
20170161—
20160101—
20151141—
20143111—
2013081—
2012181—
20111141—
20100141—
20091161—
20080172—
20070142—
20061102—
2005271—
2004051—
2003021—
2002121—
2001230—
2000030—
1999020—
1998Viewing220—
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—
1994000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.