RecallMyCar

Western Star Heritage Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 0 owner complaints across 4 model years of the Western Star Heritage (1995–1999).

7
safety recalls, all years
0
owner complaints, all years
1996
year with most recalls

Pick your Western Star Heritage model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1999 Western Star Heritage10
1997 Western Star Heritage20
1996 Western Star Heritage40
1995 Western Star Heritage10

All Western Star Heritage recalls (7)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Western Star Heritage, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 01V044002 Reported 16,000 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: trucks, school bus and motor home chassis, and transit buses equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began may 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

    Model years: 1999

  2. Switch (service brakes)

    NHTSA 97V151000 Reported 40 vehicles potentially affected WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.

    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.

    Model years: 1997

  3. Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)

    NHTSA 97V152000 Reported 14 vehicles potentially affected WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with fontaine sl6fm229-8375 fixed fifth wheels. The fifth wheel mounting plate flanges in the front and rear can interfere with the normal articulation of the fifth wheel. This interference can lead to damage of the fifth wheel lock handle and/or the top plate.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fifth wheel mounting plates and repair any damaged fifth wheel components.

    Model years: 1997

  4. Drum (service brakes)

    NHTSA 96V148000 Reported 88 vehicles potentially affected WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will modify the front brakes on these trucks.

    Model years: 1995, 1996

  5. Springs (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 89V017000 Reported 1,134 vehicles potentially affected WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.

    Cables used for throttle control are subject to failing in service due to vibrational fatigue between the cable end sleeve and hub.

    Remedy: Replace suspect throttle cables with throttle rods.

    Model years: 1996

  6. Linkages (steering)

    NHTSA 88V131000 Reported 100 vehicles potentially affected WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.

    Steering arms used on front axles contain dimensional inconsistencies.

    Remedy: Replace suspect front steering arms.

    Model years: 1996

  7. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 88V112000 Reported 12 vehicles potentially affected WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.

    The outer stainless steel skin on the muffler could reach temperatures over 400 degrees.

    Remedy: Add heat shields to the stainless steel wrapped mufflers in question.

    Model years: 1996

Other Western Star models

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.