- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Western Star 4900, 2024 Freightliner Cascadia, and 2027 Western Star 49X vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the Federal Certification Label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
- The risk
- An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 5, 2027. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1045.
Vehicle safety record
2020 Western Star 4900 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2020 Western Star 4900 with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (1). It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in November 2026 for the labels. For comparison, the 2019 has 1 and the 2021 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical 4900 year, for its age
#347 most complained-about 2020 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2020 Western Star 4900 problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2020 Western Star 4900 recalls 8
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Freightliner 114SD, 2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2020 Western Star 4700, 2019-2022 Western Star 4900, 2019-2023 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with tires that are not compatible with their 8.25-inch rims. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
- The risk
- Driving with tires that are not compatible with their rims can reduce tire performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-962.
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2021 Freightliner SD 108, Freightliner SD 114, 2016-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2013 Western Star 6900, 2013-2022 Western Star 4700, Western Star 4900, and 2022 49X vehicles. The tires and rims are not approved and rated for these vehicles from the Tire and Rim Association or tire manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
- The risk
- Unapproved tires that are not rated for the vehicle can cause tire performance issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealer will inspect and replace, as necessary, tires and rims, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL-908.
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Western Star 4700 and 4900 and Freightliner Coronado, 108SD and 114SD vehicles. The vehicle certification label contains incorrect information, stating a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) that exceeds the tire capacity rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other than passenger cars."
- The risk
- Incorrect weight rating information on the certification labels could result in potential overloading of the axles, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install accurate GAWR labels, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-864.
- The problem
- Daimler Truckers North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Freightliner 114SD, 122SD and Western Star 4700, and 4900 vehicles equipped with certain SL2065 steerable lift axles. The lower rear pivot cap screws may not be long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts.
- The risk
- If the screws are not long enough to engage the corresponding nuts, the hardware may separate from the suspension system, becoming a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
- The fix
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower rear pivot cap screws for the proper length, correcting the hardware as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-862.
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Freightliner 108SD and 2020-2021 Freightliner Coronado, 114SD, and Western Star 4700 and 4900 vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label may be incorrect, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Wheels and Rims - Other Than Passenger Cars."
- The risk
- An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the GAWR labels, free of charge. The recall began May 28, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL847.
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Western Star 4900 and 5700 vehicles equipped with sleeper cab vent windows. Due to improper adhesive, the vent window may detach from the vehicle.
- The risk
- If the vent window detaches while the vehicle is in motion, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vent windows, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on December 27, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-836.
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Western Star 4900 and 5700 vehicles. The adhesive bond may fail allowing the baggage or sleeper side door to separate from the hinges.
- The risk
- A baggage or sleeper side door that separates from the vehicle while in motion can cause road debris, increasing the risk of an injury or crash.
- The fix
- DTNA will notify owners and dealers will install reinforcement clips with mechanical fasteners on each baggage and sleeper door hinge, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on December 6, 2019. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL834.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 2020 Western Star 4900
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Center pin in front leaf springs is not long enough to enter hole in front axle which, keeps them from moving side to side and front to rear. This caused axle to move front and back egg shaping the spacers and causing u bolts to loosen. This could have been catastrophic if it had not been caught by mechanic after I noticed something not being right. The front axle could have folded under the weight of the truck had I had to apply the brakes hard to stop which could have caused a terrible accident. This has kept me...
Read the full complaint
in the shop for over a week. Now I have a huge bill and a truck note to pay because of negligence on behalf of western star trucks.There are other trucks that have experienced this same problem and no cure found from western star not to mention how many truck are on the highway right now with the same issue like a ticking time bomb. They have denied responsibility for this but, the truck came from their factory this way and the new springs had the the same size center pin so, the mechanic had to find longer center pins that would actually go down into the axle. I have some pictures and crows truck center in Memphis did the work and we have kept all of the old parts. The mechanic notated his findings on the invoice.
Western Star 4900: every year compared
All 4900 years2020 Western Star 4900 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Western Star 4900 | 1 | 8 | C | |
| 2020 Western Star 4700 | 2 | 12 | F | Compare |
| 2020 Western Star 5700 | 1 | 6 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2020 Western Star 4900
Does the 2020 Western Star 4900 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2020 Western Star 4900: labels (November 2026); rim (December 2022); tires (November 2021); labels (October 2020) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Western Star 4900?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (1).
How many complaints has the 2020 Western Star 4900 had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on May 24, 2021 and the latest on May 24, 2021. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2020 Western Star 4900 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 51 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Western Star 4900 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Western Star 4900 years have the most complaints?
2014 (3), 1998 (2), 2001 (2). See every Western Star 4900 year compared.
What should I do if my 2020 Western Star 4900 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data