Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Western Star 4900 failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 239,975 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Western Star 4900.
| 2020551 12 Nov 2020 | Structure Issue: On certain trucks, the welds that attach the trailer hitch may crack due to improper welding. As a result, the hitch could detach from the truck while … |
| 2017636 18 Dec 2017 | Accessories On certain vehicles equipped with Kidde fire extinguishers with black plastic handles and valves, the fire extinguishers may become clogged or require excessive… |
| 2010201 14 Jun 2010 | Steering On certain twin-steer 4900SA vehicles, the spacer used to connect the aft steer axle idler arm to the frame rail may develop cracks and eventually break under s… |
| 2005320 18 Oct 2005 | Fuel System On certain vehicles fitted with optional in-cab batteries, fuel lines may contact the cab power harness, resulting in chafe damage that could present a fire haz… |
| 2005141 10 May 2005 | Heater And Defroster On certain vehicles, burner tubes in the Webasto DBW 2010 Scholastic coolant heater may begin deteriorating at an accelerated rate and could fail. Burner tube … |
| 2004085 8 Mar 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles, the TRW drag link clamp assembly may contain an improperly torqued hex nut. If the final tightening of this nut is less than 65 ft.lbs, th… |
| 2003158 19 Jun 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, fatigue cracks can initiate in the weld joining the bracket pin to its mounting flange on the fifth wheel assembly. Weld failures could le… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS FITTED WITH OPTIONAL IN-CAB BATTERIES, THE DUAL SUCTION/RETURN LINES MAY CONTACT THE CAB POWER HARNESS RESULTING IN CHAFING THROUGH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Western Star told its dealers about the 2003 Western Star 4900: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10195575 | Service Solution SS 1033094 KUS Float Tube Fuel Level Sensor Inform... |
| 10184788 | Western Star Service Bulletin for Axle Flange Gasket Replaced with O-Ring. Daimler Trucks North America has released a new axle shaft to hub rubber O-ring (part number 11-30728-000) as a replacement for the paper gasket (part number 11-14418-000). The new O-ring will provide better sealing and is reusable. It is quicker and easier to use compared to the paper gasket, because using a paper gasket requires cleaning the hub when the axle shaft is removed. |
| 10170603 | Technical Service Letter for DDC Series 60 engines concerning Series 60 Cylinder Head Resurfacing/Finish. Detroit Diesel does not recommend third party resurfacing of Series 60 cylinder heads (outside of Detroit and Detroit Reman). |
| 10163575 | Service Bulletin provided to customers regarding installation of a new MCM 21-pin jumper harness. |
| 10158111 | Service Bulletin Vibration and Harsh Ride Troubleshooting |
| 10158025 | Technical Publications Ordering |
| 10158021 | Fuel Level Sending Unit Retrofit |
| 10151512 | Operating Hours for the Customer Assistance Center |
| 10146308 | With the start of production on March 6, 2018, the fasteners used to attach the slide- and plate-mount style fifth wheels to the outboard angles changed to M16 metric bolts, nuts, and washers. |
| 10146307 | In some operating conditions, water may leak into the cab onto the passenger floor through the HVAC fresh air intake on the frontwall on 47,00,4900, and 5700 models. |
| 10146306 | If a GVWR certification label is lost or damaged, Freightliner will supply a duplicate label. Log on to DTNAConnect.com and under "DTNAConnect Resources", select the "Tool and Services" plus sign. Select "Request for Certification Labl or OWI." Fillout the form, then select "Review." |
| 10142301 | sbw2018 Western Star 4800 and 4900 Radiator Mounting |
| 10142277 | 33-4- Bearing Spacer Replacement, ConMet PreSet Steer Hubs |
| 10142276 | 35-11 - Bearing Spacer Replacement, ConMet PreSet Drive Hubs |
| 10142079 | sbw0001Validity List Western Star |
| 10142030 | 608-13 High Pressure Fuel Flange-Two-Filter System |
| 10142025 | RX Module Fault Codes |
| 10142015 | 707-13 Description and Operation of the HC Doser Fuel Supply Pressure Control Valve - Two Filter System |
| 10142014 | 710-13 Metal in the Fuel System - Three-Filter Fuel System |
| 10142013 | 712-13 Fuel Cooler Leak Test Procedure - Three-Filter Fuel System |
| 10142012 | 705-13 Test-E Three-Filter Fuel System |
| 10142011 | 702-13 Test E Two-Filter Fuel System |
| 10142010 | 711-13 SPN 100-FMI 4 - ALL YEARS |
| 10142000 | 717-13 Oil Pan |
| 10141990 | sbw5455 Virtual Technician Retrofit |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Daimler Trucks North America Recalls
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation