RoadVitals

1996 Western Star Constellation

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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 Apr 25, 1997
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.
1
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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Western Star Constellation. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 14 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.

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
97V075000

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Apr 25, 1997
14 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVENTIONAL TRUCKS AND TRUCK/TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH A FIREWALL ADAPTER PLATE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT BOOT. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TOP OF THE OPENING IN THE ADAPTER PLATE CAN CAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT TO CONTACT THE TOP OF THE FIREWALL ADAPTER OPENING WEARING A GROOVE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. IF THE GROOVE IS ALLOWED TO WEAR DEEP ENOUGH, THE SHAFT CAN FAIL.
The risk: IF THE STEERING SHAFT FAILS, STEERING CONTROL WILL BE LOST INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FIREWALL ADAPTER PLATE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
96V148000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

Aug 1, 1996
88 units potentially affected
The defect: THE BRAKE RETURN SPRING CAN CONTACT THE HUB. FURTHER WEAR OF THE BRAKE LINING MATERIAL WILL LEAD TO WEAR OF THE RETURN SPRING AND THE SPRING CAN FAIL PREMATURELY.
The risk: PIECES OF THE FAILED SPRING COULD THEN LODGE IN THE BRAKE CAM CAUSING EITHER THE AFFECTED BRAKE TO STAY APPLIED WHEN THE OTHER BRAKES HAVE BEEN RELEASED, OR STOPPING THE AFFECTED BRAKE FROM APPLYING WHEN THE OTHER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE COULD THEN BE PULLED IN A LATERAL DIRECTION OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE FRONT BRAKES ON THESE TRUCKS.
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ98004ClosedRecall Query

STEERING COLUMNS

Opened Mar 18, 1998
Closed Oct 7, 1998

THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A FIREWALL ADAPTER PLATE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT BOOT WITH AN INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TOP OPENING IN THE ADAPTER PLATE.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)Led to recall 97V075000

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

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

35-7

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CENTER SUPPORT BEARING; SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING; SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

WESTERN STAR: LUBRICATE WHEEL BEARINGS, REAR DRIVE AXLES. *JS

SB-49-7

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

WESTERN STAR: EPA07 EXHAUST BELLOWS REPLACEMENT. IF A FAILED EXHAUST BELLOWS ON AN EPA07 ENGINE INSTALLATION, REPLACE IT WITH A NEW STYLE BELLOWS, AND TWO NEW MATCHING CLAMPS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 6/14/2011. *KB UPDATED 4/20/12. *PE

SB-46-9

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WESTERN STAR TRUCKS: THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A DIFFERENT VERSION PUMP. *RM

SB-32-13

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

WESTERN STAR TRUCKS: THE REAR SUSPENSION AIR-SPRING ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REDESIGNED. *RM

SB-35-06

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

WESTERN STAR TRUCKS: INSTRUCTIONS TO REMOVE, INSPECT, AND RESEAL THE LOWER PINION COVER ON THE REAR AXLES. *RM

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 Constellation by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019000—
2016000—
2015000—
2013000—
2012010—
2011110—
2010010—
2009010—
2001100—
1999110—
1998000—
1997021—
1996Viewing021—
1995021—

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.