Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Western Star 4900, most frequently naming the airbags and suspension categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
3 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.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE SECOND VEHICLE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE LIMITED AND THE SPECIFICS ON WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4964SX (NA). THE VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSTALLATION COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT THE PUSHER AXLE WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. THE SPEED AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,068 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 15 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 16 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 16 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 10 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 14 | 1 | — |
| 2014 | 3 | 11 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 14 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 14 | 1 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 16 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | 17 | 2 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 14 | 2 | — |
| 2006 | 1 | 10 | 2 | — |
| 2005 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2002 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2001Viewing | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.