2005 Western Star 4900

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › defroster/defogger/hvac system. It has been recalled 7 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1
000
Power Train › Axle Hubs1
000

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment17V810000
Filed Dec 15, 201724,860 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.

Fuel System, Diesel11V478000
Filed Sep 16, 201173,500 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 11, 2003, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTERS MOUNTED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE BETWEEN ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER AND ENGINE BLOCK MAY DEVELOP A SUBSTANTIAL DIESEL FUEL LEAK.

Risk. THIS COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS ON OCTOBER 28, 2011. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Engine and Engine Cooling09V366000
Filed Sep 23, 200925,362 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Risk. AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Fuel System, Diesel08V113000
Filed Mar 11, 200862,000 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America

Defect. DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 62,000 MY 2005-2007 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, FLD, CLASSIC, STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS. A FRACTURED FUEL LINE COULD LEAK DIESEL FUEL.

Risk. IF A LEAK CONTINUES UNDETECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, FUEL MAY IGNITE AT A HOT ENGINE SURFACE AND/OR FUEL MAY BE SPILLED ON THE ROAD SURFACE.

Remedy. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Service Brakes, Air › Slack Adjusters07V571000
Filed Dec 18, 200731 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH SISU FR2P-21, SISU FR2P-26, SISU FR3P-33, OR SISU FR3P-48 REAR AXLES, A COUNTER-BORE MACHINED IN BOTH ENDS OF THE WORM WHEEL OPENING OF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING REDUCES MATERIAL THICKNESS BETWEEN THE WORM WHEEL OPENING AND THE WORM SHAFT OPENING. UNDER NORMAL SERVICE A CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THIS AREA RENDERING THE SLACK ADJUSTER INOPERABLE AND REDUCING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.

Risk. REDUCED VEHICLE BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SLACK ADJUSTERS, AND REPLACE THE ADJUSTER IF FOUND DEFECTIVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Engine and Engine Cooling06V030000
Filed Feb 8, 20065,771 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Risk. THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy. CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH FREIGHTLINER, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings05V453000
Filed Oct 5, 2005600 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Axle Hubs
Filed Jun 26, 2006208,175 milesUT

PASSENGER SIDE STEER AXLE HUB FAILED. IT CRACKED IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN BETWEEN THE SPINDLE WHEEL STUDS AND THE BEARING FLANGE 360 DEGREES. *JB

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Feb 25, 200636,737 milesGA

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND A/C HOSE HARNES WITH BRACKET ARE FAILING. IN WARM RAINY WEATHER THERE IS A HAZARD AS DEFOGGING OF WINDSHIELD IS MINIMAL. FIRST OF 4 INCIDENTS OCCURRED SEPTEMBER 25,2005.

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
2005 — this page2700Routine
20040500Routine
20030200Routine
20021200Routine
20012302Fatalities reported
20000300Routine
19990200Routine
19982200Routine

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: Dec 15, 2017. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.