Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Western Star 4900, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility/wiper1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
18 Transport Canada recalls for the 2009 Western Star 4900.
| 2019237 17 May 2019 | Brakes Issue: Certain trucks were built with air reservoir tanks that are too small in relation to the size of the air brake chambers. Canadian regulations require e… |
| 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… |
| 2017583 28 Nov 2017 | Brakes On certain vehicles with air brakes, after several hard brake applications, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights with a light appli… |
| 2013300 4 Sept 2013 | Seats And Restraints On certain trucks, a misaligned B-pillar reinforcement could affect seatbelt D-ring anchor performance. Failure of the seatbelt D-ring anchorage to restrain th… |
| 2012168 22 May 2012 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the forward cab crossmember may pinch power cables for the cab-mounted battery disconnect switch during cab articulation. This could cause… |
| 2012080 27 Feb 2012 | Fuel System On certain trucks equipped with a Detroit Diesel DD13, DD15 or DD16 engine, the support system for the high pressure fuel line (between the fuel pump and the fu… |
| 2011411 21 Nov 2011 | Other On certain vehicles equipped with an MBE4000 (EPA07) engine, the intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail. This could result in a vehicle fire causing… |
| 2011236 22 Jun 2011 | Electrical On certain trucks equipped with a DD15 or DD16 engine, the bolt attaching a rubber isolator to a support bracket may become loose, back out, and contact the sta… |
| 2011141 29 Mar 2011 | Engine On certain trucks equipped with a Caterpillar C15 diesel engine, the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) combustion tube may fail. This could result in a vehicle f… |
| 2010251 26 Jul 2010 | Other On certain vehicles equipped with an MBE900 (EPA04 and EPA07) engine, the intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail. This could result in a vehicle fir… |
| 2010250 26 Jul 2010 | Fuel System On certain vehicles equipped with a DD13 and DD15 engines, over time, the barrel of the Bosch high pressure fuel pump element may develop a crack due to hydroge… |
| 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… |
| 2010144 3 May 2010 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, should the fuel filter become restricted, the low pressure fuel flange may develop a crack resulting in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the … |
| 2009294 14 Oct 2009 | Engine On certain vehicles, the engine grid heater may fail, which could result in a vehicle fire causing property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Deale… |
| 2009288 5 Oct 2009 | Fuel System On certain trucks, the fasteners on the high pressure fuel pump may not have received adequate tightening torque - 23Nm instead of the required 43Nm. This coul… |
| 2009287 5 Oct 2009 | Fuel System On certain trucks, the plastic low-pressure fuel line may fatigue crack and leak. Diesel fuel leakage may ignite on a hot engine surface and cause a fire, whic… |
| 2009270 22 Sept 2009 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a Caterpillar C15 engine, the Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) oil line may wear against the P-clip retaining the oil line. An … |
| 2009169 4 Jun 2009 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the forward cab crossmember may pinch power cables for the cab-mounted battery disconnect switch during cab articulation. This could cause… |
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
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks. After hard brake applications, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights with a light application of the brake pedal.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Western Star 4900 vehicles manufactured May 27, 2008, through March 22, 2013. A potential misalignment of a clearance hole in the B-pillar reinforcement may affect the performance of the seatbelt D-ring anchorage point.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING 12 MY 2009 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS BUILT WITH DD15 ENGINES. A NEW FORWARD CAB CROSSMEMBER DESIGN REDUCED CLEARANCE FOR CAB MOUNTED BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH POWER CABLES ON STANDARD CAB HEIGHT VEHICLES. DURING CAB ARTICULATION, THE NEW CROSSMEMBER MAY PINCH POWER CABLES AGAINST THE CAB.
DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2013 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL EPA07 AND EPA10, DD13 AND DD15/16 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 20, 2006, THROUGH FEBRUARY 20, 2012. THE PUMP TO RAIL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE SUPPORT SYSTEM USED ON THESE ENGINES IS SENSITIVE TO ASSEMBLY TORQUE AND MAY BE DAMAGED DURING SERVICE WORK. AS A RESULT OF OTHER REPAIRS, THE LINE SUPPORTS MAY LOOSEN, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO FUEL LINE CRACKING AND A FUEL LEAK.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, M2, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 19, 2009, THROUGH JULY 9, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC DD13 AND DD15 ENGINES ASSEMBLED WITH A BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ELEMENT WHICH MAY DEVELOP A CRACK DUE TO HYDROGEN INDUCED STRESS CORROSION. THE CRACK MAY RESULT IN A DIESEL FUEL LEAK.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 9, 2007, THROUGH FEBRUARY 20, 2009. DEGRADATION OF A COMBUSTION TUBE WELD CAN CAUSE RADIAL HEAT IMPINGEMENT ON THE BODY WHICH MAY BURN THROUGH CERTAIN BODIES USED ON C15 ENGINES.
DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA FLD, AND M2, STERLING 9500, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 20, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE4000 EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, M2, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 19, 2009 THROUGH JULY 9, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC DD13 AND DD15 ENGINES ASSEMBLED WITH A BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ELEMENT WHICH MAY DEVELOP A CRACK DUE TO HYDROGEN INDUCED STRESS CORROSION. OVER TIME THE BARREL OF THE BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ELEMENT USED ON SPECIFIC DD13/DD15 ENGINES MAY DEVELOP A CRACK DUE TO HYDROGEN INDUCED STRESS CORROSION RESULTING IN A DIESEL FUEL LEAK.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, FCCC, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
DAIMLER TRUCKS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA, FLD, STERLING 9500 AND WESTERN STAR 4900 EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THE ENGINE MAY SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION IS DETECTED.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL DD15 EPA07 ENGINES WHICH WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GRID HEATERS. INCREASED INTERNAL GRID HEATER RESISTANCE CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED SCREWS MAY MELT THE SOLDER ON THE GRID HEATER CIRCUIT BOARD LEADING TO A SHORT CIRCUIT.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 5, 2008 AND JANUARY 7, 2009, EQUIPPED DD15 ENGINES AND WITH BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS. THE FASTENERS ON THESE FUEL PUMPS COULD BE UNDER-TORQUED ALLOWING THE "O" RING BETWEEN THE PUMP HOUSING AND THE BARREL TO PROTRUDE AND LEAK.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 17, 2006 AND MARCH 31, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH EPA07 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES. THE PLASTIC LINES MAY EXPERIENCE LEAKS DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKS CAUSED BY STRESS AND VIBRATION COMBINED WITH HIGH INTERNAL PRESSURE.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 53 MY 2009-2010 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS BUILT WITH DD15 ENGINES. A NEW FORWARD CAB CROSSMEMBER DESIGN REDUCED CLEARANCE FOR CAB MOUNTED BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH POWER CABLES ON STANDARD CAB HEIGHT VEHICLES. DURING CAB ARTICULATION THE NEW CROSSMEMBER MAY PINCH POWER CABLES AGAINST THE CAB.
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 2009 Western Star 4900: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10214907 | Updated Western Star Service Bulletin for HVAC Actuator Replacement |
| 10213225 | Western Star Service Bulletin for HVAC Actuator Replacement. The wiring harness of the actuator of the fresh air recirculation door on Western Star vehicles equipped with Red Dot HVAC systems should be inspected for signs of water intrusion and corrosion. |
| 10205885 | HVAC Actuator Wiring Harness. Revision History: Service kit part number changed from RDH RD5 17147 0 to WWS RD-3-9069-0 on 12/9/21. The wiring harness of the actuator of the fresh air recirculation door, shown in Fig. 1, on Western Star vehicles equipped with Red Dot HVAC systems should be inspected for signs of water intrusion and corrosion. |
| 10202728 | SF626 Western Star Window Replacement Inspection Notification. This letter is to inform you that Field Service Campaign SF626 Western Star Window Replacement Inspection Notification campaign was released. |
| 10201680 | Customer Advisory Letter for HVAC Actuator Wiring Harness. The wiring harness of the actuator of the fresh air recirculation door, shown in Fig. 1, on Western Star vehicles equipped with Red Dot HVAC systems should be inspected for signs of water intrusion and corrosion. |
| 10195575 | Service Solution SS 1033094 KUS Float Tube Fuel Level Sensor Inform... |
| 10190551 | Warranty Information letter announcing that DTNA is increasing the Standard Diagnostic Times (SDTs) shown. The updated after treatment system (ATS) diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) pump times will be applied to repair orders opened on or after April 12, 2021. |
| 10190549 | Warranty Information Letter announcing DTNA is adjusting the Standard Repair Times (SRTs) shown. The updated times will be applied to repair orders opened on or after April 5, 2021. |
| 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. |
| 10183955 | Special Publication Letter for EPA07 EPA10 Three-Filter Fuel System DD15 DD16 Severe Duty High Pressure Fuel Rail Feed Lines Service Kit |
| 10183954 | Special Publication letter for Two-Filter Fuel System KM59 GEN1 DD15 DD16 Severe Duty High Pressure Fuel Rail Feed Lines Service Kit. |
| 10183733 | Technical Service Letter for SPN 3711 FMI 31 on GHG17 DD15 Trucks. |
| 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). |
| 10170323 | Service Solution for Western Star vehicles equipped with Hendrickson AIRTEK Axles experiencing a Harsh Ride. |
| 10166432 | Technical Service Letter communicating that information on DD Heavy Duty Platform Belt and Belt Tensioner can be found on TechLit. |
| 10165427 | Tool Letter for ICC5 Programming Cable |
| 10163634 | Service Information Bulletin for Symptom Diagnostics - Fluid in the Aftertreatment - Diesel Fuel Contamination. |
| 10163575 | Service Bulletin provided to customers regarding installation of a new MCM 21-pin jumper harness. |
| 10158111 | Service Bulletin Vibration and Harsh Ride Troubleshooting |
| 10158040 | SPN 3226 (ACM) (GHG17) |
| 10158039 | SPN 96 (MCM) (GHG17) |
| 10158038 | SPN 3226 (ACM) (GHG17) |
| 10158037 | Fuel System Integrity Check Routine - Two-Filter Fuel System |
| 10158036 | Diagnostic tests - Two Filter System - FSIC Leak Test |
| 10158035 | SPN 3464 (MCM) (GHG14) |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Daimler Trucks North America Recalls
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation