1996 Western Star Constellation

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 2 times.

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)97V075000

Filed Apr 25, 199714 vehiclesWestern Star Trucks, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVENTIONAL TRUCKS AND TRUCK/TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH A FIREWALL ADAPTER PLATE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT BOOT. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TOP OF THE OPENING IN THE ADAPTER PLATE CAN CAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT TO CONTACT THE TOP OF THE FIREWALL ADAPTER OPENING WEARING A GROOVE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. IF THE GROOVE IS ALLOWED TO WEAR DEEP ENOUGH, THE SHAFT CAN FAIL.

Risk. IF THE STEERING SHAFT FAILS, STEERING CONTROL WILL BE LOST INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FIREWALL ADAPTER PLATE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum96V148000

Filed Aug 1, 199688 vehiclesWestern Star Trucks, Inc.

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.

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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE FRONT BRAKES ON THESE TRUCKS.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Assessment
2012	0	1	Routine
2011	1	1	Routine
2010	0	1	Routine
2009	0	1	Routine
2001	1	0	Routine
1999	1	1	Routine
1997	0	2	Routine
1996 — this page	0	2	Routine
1995	0	2	Routine

Compare every Constellation year →

Other Western Star models

All Western Star models →

4900 17 4700 6 5700 4 4964 4 Western Star 3 Conventional 3 4900Ex 3 47x 3

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: Apr 25, 1997. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.