RoadVitals

2020 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.
1
Latest May 24, 2021
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.
7
Latest Dec 12, 2022
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2020 Western Star 4900, most frequently naming the suspension category. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 156 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

  • Suspension1100.0%

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

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

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
22V919000

TIRES; WHEELS:RIM

Dec 12, 2022
49 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Freightliner 114SD, 2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2020 Western Star 4700, 2019-2022 Western Star 4900, 2019-2023 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with tires that are not compatible with their 8.25-inch rims. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
The risk: Driving with tires that are not compatible with their rims can reduce tire performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-962.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL-962View on NHTSA.gov
21V896000

TIRES

Nov 17, 2021
307 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2021 Freightliner SD 108, Freightliner SD 114, 2016-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2013 Western Star 6900, 2013-2022 Western Star 4700, Western Star 4900, and 2022 49X vehicles. The tires and rims are not approved and rated for these vehicles from the Tire and Rim Association or tire manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
The risk: Unapproved tires that are not rated for the vehicle can cause tire performance issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace, as necessary, tires and rims, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL-908.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL-908View on NHTSA.gov
20V634000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS; TIRES

Oct 14, 2020
53 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Western Star 4700 and 4900 and Freightliner Coronado, 108SD and 114SD vehicles. The vehicle certification label contains incorrect information, stating a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) that exceeds the tire capacity rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other than passenger cars."
The risk: Incorrect weight rating information on the certification labels could result in potential overloading of the axles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install accurate GAWR labels, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-864.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-864View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed May 24, 2021

Center pin in front leaf springs is not long enough to enter hole in front axle which, keeps them from moving side to side and front to rear. This caused axle to move front and back egg shaping the spacers and causing u bolts to loosen. This could have been catastrophic if it had not been caught by mechanic after I noticed something not being right. The front axle could have folded under the weight of the truck had I had to apply the brakes hard to stop which could have caused a terrible accident. This has kept me in the shop for over a week. Now I have a huge bill and a truck note to pay because of negligence on behalf of western star trucks.There are other trucks that have experienced this same problem and no cure found from western star not to mention how many truck are on the highway right now with the same issue like a ticking time bomb. They have denied responsibility for this but, the truck came from their factory this way and the new springs had the the same size center pin so, the mechanic had to find longer center pins that would actually go down into the axle. I have some pictures and crows truck center in Memphis did the work and we have kept all of the old parts. The mechanic notated his findings on the invoice.

NHTSA ID
11418380
Incident
May 13, 2021

Manufacturer communications

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

PB-47-900-WST

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Parts Bulletin for Fluorosilicone Fuel Tank Cap Seals

TSB-32-020-WST

SUSPENSION

Technical Service Bulletin for TufTrac M12 Bolts

CXA_10_25_Conmet Oil Pan

ENGINE

CX Advocate for ConMet Oil Pan Insert Additional Issues

PB33-005-WST

STEERING

Parts Bulletin for Tie Rod Assembly Part Breakdown

CXA 3_25_NOx

ENGINE

CX Advocate for NOx conversion low faults

CXA 2_25_NOx

ENGINE

CX Advocate for NOx conversion low faults

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—
2020Viewing170—
20191150—
20180161—
20170161—
20160101—
20151141—
20143111—
2013081—
2012181—
20111141—
20100141—
20091161—
20080172—
20070142—
20061102—
2005271—
2004051—
2003021—
2002121—
2001230—
2000030—
1999020—
1998220—
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.