Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. It has been recalled 3 times.
1 of the 2 complaints (50%) are about the airbags.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension › Multiple Axle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags · airbags | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS FITTED WITH OPTIONAL IN-CAB BATTERIES, THE DUAL SUCTION/RETURN LINES MAY CONTACT THE CAB POWER HARNESS RESULTING IN CHAFING THROUGH.
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REROUTE AND SECURE THE FUEL LINES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
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.
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A CAPACITOR IN THE POWER LINE CONTROL (PLC) FILTER COULD OVERHEAT AND/OR IGNITE WHEN SUBJECTED TO REVERSE POLARITY ELECTRICAL SPIKES.
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE PLC FILTER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT AND SECURE THE PLC FILTER GROUND WIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 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.
All 3 campaigns on file, newest first.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE SECOND VEHICLE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE LIMITED AND THE SPECIFICS ON WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4964SX (NA). THE VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSTALLATION COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT THE PUSHER AXLE WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. THE SPEED AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,068 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
All 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2022 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2021 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2020 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2019 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2018 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2017 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2016 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2015 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2014 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2013 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2012 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2011 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2010 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2008 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2006 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2002 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2001 — this page | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | Fatalities reported |
| 2000 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.
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: Oct 5, 2005. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.