RoadVitals

1997 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.
2
Latest Sep 14, 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.
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 1997 Western Star Heritage. 2 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

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
97V151000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:LOW PRESSURE WARNING:SWITCH

Sep 14, 1997
40 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY 6X4 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EITHER HENDRICKSON RT/RS SERIES SUSPENSIONS OR CHALMERS 800 SERIES SUSPENSIONS, WITH A WHEEL BASE GREATER THAN 250 INCHES, AND WESTERN STAR'S AIR '96' AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE AIR BRAKE RELEASE TIME REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
The risk: AIR BRAKE RELEASE TIME MAY BE LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED BY THE OPERATOR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IN-LINE QUICK RELEASE VALVE IN EACH OF THE DROP LINES TO THE REAR MOST BRAKE CHAMBERS.
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
97V152000

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

Sep 14, 1997
14 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FONTAINE SL6FM229-8375 FIXED FIFTH WHEELS. THE FIFTH WHEEL MOUNTING PLATE FLANGES IN THE FRONT AND REAR CAN INTERFERE WITH THE NORMAL ARTICULATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL. THIS INTERFERENCE CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK HANDLE AND/OR THE TOP PLATE.
The risk: DAMAGE OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN LEAD TO FAILURE OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TRACTOR AND THE SEMI-TRAILER ALLOWING THE SEMI-TRAILER TO SEPARATE FROM THE TRACTOR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FIFTH WHEEL MOUNTING PLATES AND REPAIR ANY DAMAGED FIFTH WHEEL COMPONENTS.
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—
1997Viewing020—
1996040—
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.