2015 Western Star 4900: complaints, problems and recalls

BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH ABOUT 60,000 ON ORIGINAL TIRES. PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW AT SPEED AROUND 66. HOOD WAS DESTROYED, TRUCK WAS ABLE TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. HAD ALMOST 1,000,000 IN CARGO ON TRUCK. HOOD AND OTHER PARTS WILL COST ABOUT $23,000 PLUS LABOR. ROAD SERVICE WAS $2,500. RIM WAS DESTROYED. TIRE SIZE 295/60/22.5 18 PLY THIS IS 4 TH BLOW OUT ON MY BRAND NEW TRUCKS. 2 PETE 388 AND 2 WESTERN STAR. ALL WITH SAME TIRE.MICHELIN XZA 2 ON ALL TRUCKS. WESTERN STAR BLOW OUT HAD 275/70/22.5. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652375 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Western Star 4900 trucks manufactured June 24, 2013, to April 30, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured without Anti-lock Brake Systems. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: When not equipped with ABS, the affected vehicles have a greater chance of wheel lock up when braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an Anti-lock Brake System, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-665.

Reported: 2014-11-28 (November 28, 2014)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015 Freightliner Business Class M2, 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Coronado, Columbia Glider, Argosy Glider, Western Star 4700, and Western Star 4900 trucks manufactured September 17, 2014, to November 10, 2014 equipped with Haldex Life Seal brake chambers. The affected vehicles may experience brake drag due to an improperly seated diaphragm in the brake chamber.

Consequence: While traveling at highway speeds, brake drag may cause loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the diaphragm if necessary, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notice on January 27, 2015. The recall began on September 25, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-676.

Reported: 2015-03-27 (March 27, 2015)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks manufactured from July 23, 2013, through December 4, 2014, and equipped with certain Kidde disposable handheld fire extinguishers. These fire extinguishers may not fully discharge as designed when the lever is repeatedly pressed and released.

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not work correctly, there is an increased risk of injury to the truck occupants.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and Kidde will provide a replacement extinguisher when contacted directly or affected owners may go to an authorized DTNA repair facility to order a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Affected owners may contact Kidde directly toll free at (855) 283-7991 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL680.

Reported: 2015-03-30 (March 30, 2015)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015 Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2, 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Coronado, Western Star 4700, and Western Star 4900 trucks manufactured October 6, 2014, to February 16, 2015, and equipped with Haldex Life Seal brake chambers. The affected vehicles may experience brake drag due to an improperly seated diaphragm in the brake chamber.

Consequence: While traveling at highway speeds, brake drag may cause loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake chambers, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices at the end of May 2015. The recall began on September 25, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL676.

Reported: 2015-06-17 (June 17, 2015)

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015 Western Star 4700, 4800 and 4900 trucks manufactured November 15, 2014, to January 30, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the speedometer may not operate properly, possibly not displaying the vehicle's speed.

Consequence: If the speedometer does not show the vehicle speed, the driver may unknowingly exceed the posted speed limit, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a new speedometer, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-683.

Reported: 2015-12-22 (December 22, 2015)

Daimler Trucks North America, Inc. (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Business Class M2, and Western Star 4900 vehicles manufactured September 26, 2014, to November 6, 2015, and equipped with certain drive axles manufactured by Marmon-Herrington. The affected axles have hex nuts on the flange yoke that may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence: If the hex nuts are not tightened to specification, the driveshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, resulting in a loss of propulsion and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hex nuts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000, or Marmon-Herrington customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-699.

Reported: 2016-10-05 (October 5, 2016)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Western Star 4900 and 5700 trucks manufactured March 22, 2013, to September 23, 2016 and equipped with a Stratosphere sleeper cab. The seat belt mounting plate may have a drill hole that is too large.

Consequence: If the plate has a hole that is too big, the plate may fail when it stressed such as in the event of a crash, preventing the seat belt from adequately restraining the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt mounting plate, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on December 7 2016. The final remedy is now available. A second notice was mailed to owners on February 24, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-725.

Reported: 2017-02-27 (February 27, 2017)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Western Star 4900 trucks. The aluminum air tanks on these vehicles may have improper welds possibly resulting in a rapid loss of air pressure.

Consequence: A rapid loss of air pressure without warning may cause a sudden application of the park brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the aluminum air tanks with steel, triple compartment, air tanks, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-732.

Reported: 2017-11-27 (November 27, 2017)

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks. After hard brake applications, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights with a light application of the brake pedal.

Consequence: If the brake lights fail to illuminate, there would not be a signal to other motorists that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. Daimler issued interim notifications to owners on January 22, 2018. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-756.

Reported: 2017-12-15 (December 15, 2017)

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

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2018-05-29 (May 29, 2018)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2019 Western Star 4900 trucks built with Lowmax hoods and disc brakes. There may be insufficient clearance between the front brake hose and the hood resulting in the brake hose being chafed.

Consequence: Front brake hose chafing may causing air loss, possibly reducing braking effectiveness and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle brake hose, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on July 27, 2018. The recall began November 27, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-773.

Reported: 2018-07-31 (July 31, 2018)

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Freightliner Cascadia, Coronado, Business Class M2, 114SD, and Western Star 4900 trucks. In certain front axle, brake lining, and brake spider combinations, braking may cause high vibrations, resulting in early failure of the tie-rod tube.

Consequence: A tie-rod failure would cause a disconnect between the front wheels, resulting in a loss of steering ability, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake linings, brake spider, and tie-rod, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL782.

Reported: 2019-05-14 (May 14, 2019)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Classic, FL80, FLD 120SD, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700, 4900, 6900, Sterling Acterra, L7500, LT7500, L8500, LT8500, L9500, and LT9500 vehicles. The vehicles may have an insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will add air reservoir capacity to the affected vehicles. Owner letters were mailed on November 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-815.

Reported: 2021-11-17 (November 17, 2021)

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2021 Freightliner SD 108, Freightliner SD 114, 2016-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2013 Western Star 6900, 2013-2022 Western Star 4700, Western Star 4900, and 2022 49X vehicles. The tires and rims are not approved and rated for these vehicles from the Tire and Rim Association or tire manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."

Consequence: Unapproved tires that are not rated for the vehicle can cause tire performance issues, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace, as necessary, tires and rims, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL-908.