1998 Western Star 4900

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the tires. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Hub03V112000
Filed Mar 21, 20035,716 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Risk. SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables01V387000
Filed Dec 17, 20013,500 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3406E AND C-15 ENGINES, INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND STUD MOUNTING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) TO THE ENGINE EXISTS. CHAFING CAN WEAR THROUGH THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE STUD.

Risk. THIS CONTACT COULD PROVIDE A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND THE BATTERY CABLES WILL BE REPLACED AND/OR RE-ROUTED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Sep 20, 2015AL

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @30 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND TORE UP THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE THE MATE TO THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS DEFECTED TO. SO IT SEEMS AS IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTED. BOTH TIRES WERE BOUGHT AND PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME. KELLY GOODYEAR BALLOON TYPE STEER TIRES (ARMORSTEEL)

Tires
Filed Sep 20, 2015AL

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @30 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND TORE UP THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE THE MATE TO THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS DEFECTED TO. SO IT SEEMS AS IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTED. BOTH TIRES WERE BOUGHT AND PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME. KELLY GOODYEAR BALLOON TYPE STEER TIRES (ARMORSTEEL)

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230400Routine
20220700Routine
20210900Routine
20201700Routine
201911500Routine
201801600Routine
201701600Routine
201601000Routine
201511400Routine
201431100Routine
20130800Routine
20121810Routine
201111400Routine
201001400Routine
200911600Routine
200801700Routine
200701400Routine
200611000Routine
20052700Routine
20040500Routine
20030200Routine
20021200Routine
20012302Fatalities reported
20000300Routine
19990200Routine
1998 — this page2200Routine

Compare every 4900 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 21, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.