RoadVitals

1996 Western Star Heritage

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.
4
Latest Aug 1, 1996
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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Western Star Heritage. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
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
89V017000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS

Jan 3, 1989
1,134 units potentially affected
The defect: CABLES USED FOR THROTTLE CONTROL ARE SUBJECT TO FAILING IN SERVICE DUE TO VIBRATIONAL FATIGUE BETWEEN THE CABLE END SLEEVE AND HUB.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE CABLE NOT ALLOWING THE THROTTLE TORETURN TO THE IDLE POSTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT THROTTLE CABLES WITH THROTTLE RODS.
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
88V131000

STEERING:LINKAGES

Aug 4, 1988
100 units potentially affected
The defect: STEERING ARMS USED ON FRONT AXLES CONTAIN DIMENSIONAL INCONSISTENCIES.
The risk: STEERING ARMS COULD EVENTUALLY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS.
The remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT FRONT STEERING ARMS.
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

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.

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-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

SB-35-07

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

WESTERN STAR TRUCKS: INFORMATION ON WHEEL BEARING LUBRICATION IN THE REAR AXLE. *RM

SB-49-8

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WESTERN STAR TRUCKS: THERE ARE NEW CGI BELLOWS DUE TO CURRENT ONES THAT ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. *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 Heritage by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999010—
1997020—
1996Viewing040—
1995010—

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.