RecallMyCar

1996 Western Star Heritage Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1996 Western Star Heritage. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1996 Western Star Heritage

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1996 Western Star Heritage. 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 Heritage model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Western Star Heritage model year in NHTSA's database.

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

Checking a specific 1996 Western Star Heritage

How do I know if my 1996 Western Star Heritage 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1996 Western Star Heritage; 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 88V112000).

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

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.