RoadVitals

2027 Western Star 49X

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 Sep 29, 2026
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.
3
Latest Nov 6, 2026
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2027 Western Star 49X, most frequently naming the steering category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 28 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

  • Steering1100.0%

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

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.gov
26V737000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

Nov 6, 2026
3,894 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2027 Western Star 49X, Western Star 47X, Freightliner Cascadia Fifth Gen, Freightliner Cascadia, Freightliner 114SD, Freightliner Business Class M2, and Freightliner 108SD vehicles equipped with certain Cummins drivelines. The driveline may be missing a snap ring in the slip yoke assembly, possibly causing the driveline to separate from the vehicle.
The risk: Driveline separation can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Detached components can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Cummins will inspect and replace the driveline as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 5, 2027. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467. DTNA's number for this recall is F1046.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1046View on NHTSA.gov
26V736000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Nov 6, 2026
7 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Western Star 4900, 2024 Freightliner Cascadia, and 2027 Western Star 49X vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the Federal Certification Label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
The risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 5, 2027. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1045.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1045View on NHTSA.gov
26V079000

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

Feb 11, 2026
26,960 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Western Star 49X and 2021-2027 Western Star 47X vehicles. A 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.
The risk: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will repair the studs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1029. This recall replaces and expands NHTSA recall number 25V326. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1029View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed Sep 29, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

Steering wheel detached completely off the steering bar. Couldn’t control vehicle and got into an accident

NHTSA ID
11767837
Incident
Sep 18, 2026

Manufacturer communications

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

FleetCom 1_Bulb Out.pdf

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Fleet Communications for Incorrectly Enabled Bulb-Out w/ Body Builder Lighting Connection (TSB-54-385-FTL, TSB-54-105-WST)

CXA 10_26_Surge Tank.pdf

ENGINE

CX Advocate for Surge Tank Level Sensor Float Sinking

CXA 10_26_J1939 Comm.pdf

ENGINE

CX Advocate for J1939 Codes with Cummins Engine (TSB-54-102-WST)

CXA 10_26_Axiomatic.pdf

POWER TRAIN

CX Advocate for Cummins Axiomatic fan Control Module Fails Due to Internal Short

TSB-60-031-WST.pdf

STRUCTURE:BODY

Technical Service Bulletin for Door Sill Plate Bracket Repair

MyCom_09282026-1

WHEELS

My Communications for New Daimler Truck Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Coming to Freightliner Plus and Western Star X-Series Vehicles

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 49X by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027Viewing130—
2026060—
20250130—
2024060—
20230140—
20221170—
20210130—
20200100—
2019000—
2018000—
2017000—

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.