1997 Western Star Heritage Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1997 Western Star Heritage. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

2 safety recalls for the 1997 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.

Switch (service brakes)

NHTSA 97V151000 Reported September 14, 1997 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.
Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)

NHTSA 97V152000 Reported September 14, 1997 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.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1997 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 year	Recalls	Complaints
1995 Western Star Heritage	1	0
1996 Western Star Heritage	4	0
1997 Western Star Heritage	2	0
1999 Western Star Heritage	1	0

Checking a specific 1997 Western Star Heritage

How do I know if my 1997 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 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 97V151000).

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.

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.