1997 Western Star Constellation Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 Western Star Constellation. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 Western Star Constellation
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (service brakes)
Vehicle description: heavy duty 6x4 trucks equipped with either hendrickson rt/rs series suspensions or chalmers 800 series suspensions, with a wheel base greater than 250 inches, and western star's air '96' air brake system without anti-lock brakes. These vehicles do not meet the air brake release time required by FMVSS no. 121, "air…
Remedy: Dealers will install an in-line quick release valve in each of the drop lines to the rear most brake chambers.
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Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)
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…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the firewall adapter plate on the affected vehicles.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1997 Western Star Constellation. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Western Star Constellation model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Western Star Constellation model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Western Star Constellation | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 Western Star Constellation | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 Western Star Constellation | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 Western Star Constellation | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 Western Star Constellation | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 Western Star Constellation | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 Western Star Constellation | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 Western Star Constellation | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 Western Star Constellation | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1997 Western Star Constellation
How do I know if my 1997 Western Star Constellation has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Western Star Constellation; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Western Star dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V075000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Western Star models
- 490017 complaints
- 47006 complaints
- 49644 complaints
- 57004 complaints
- 47X3 complaints
- 4900EX3 complaints
- Conventional3 complaints
- Western Star3 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.