2008 Western Star 4900 recalls and problems
The 2008 Western Star 4900 has 17 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Western Star dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2008 Western Star 4900 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2008 Western Star 4900 recalls
Recall 17V-810: Equipment
Problem: 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
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.
Recall 17V-761: Exterior Lighting
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the brake lights fail to illuminate, there would not be a signal to other motorists that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. Daimler issued interim notifications to owners on January 22, 2018. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-756.
Recall 12V-074: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak could create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Also a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Fix: Dtna will notify owners, and where necessary, the high pressure fuel line support system will be replaced by dtna authorized service facilities, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 27, 2012. Owners may contact dtna at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 11V-478: Fuel System, Diesel
Problem: Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 heavy trucks manufactured from july 11, 2003, through september 28, 2007, equipped with epa04 model mbe4000 engines built with plastic low pressure fuel lines and fuel filters mounted near the center of the engine on the left-hand side. The plastic low pressure fuel line between engine mounted fuel filter and engine block may develop a substantial diesel fuel leak.
Risk: This could create a road hazard increasing the risk of a crash. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. Vehicles will be inspected and the plastic low pressure fuel line will be replaced with a steel low pressure fuel line. This service will be performed free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on october 28, 2011. The safety recall began on february 21, 2012. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 11V-207: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in a fire.
Fix: Caterpillar is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Please see caterpillar's defect report 11e-006. Caterpillar will replace the single piece combustion tube with a thick wall combustion tube which won't allow the heat to break through. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began in august 2011. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1-800-447-4986.
Recall 11V-146: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dtna will notify owners of the recall during march 2011. Another notification will be issued once the remedy is released. Dtna expects the remedy to be available by december 1, 2011. Repairs will be performed by dtna dealers free of charge. Owners may contact dtna toll-free at 1-800-547-0712. This recall is asscociated with a previous recall, campaign number 10v-341.
Recall 10V-341: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Daimler trucks will notify owners and dealers will repair the buses free of charge. Repairs will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 29, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 10V-112: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: Unexpected emergency vehicle engine shutdown under certain conditions could hamper rescue operations and place the public at risk.
Fix: The engine control logic will be reprogrammed to illuminate a malfunction indicator light without requesting engine shutdown. Repairs will be performed by detroit diesel. Please see daimler trucks defect report 10e-005. The safety recall began on may 17, 2010. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 1-313-592-5800 or daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 09V-400: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: A short-circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: The engine control logic will be reprogrammed free of charge by detroit diesel authorized repair facilities and direct warranty customers to provide cold weather starting without the need of a grid heater. The safety recall began on november 4, 2009. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 1-313-592-5800 and daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 09V-391: Fuel System, Gasoline
Problem: 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.
Risk: If a diesel fuel leak continues undetected under certain conditions fuel may ignite on a hot engine surface and/or fuel may spill on the road increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities and direct warranty customers. The safety recall began on may 7, 2010. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 09V-366: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: An oil leak may result in a fire.
Fix: Daimler trucks is working with caterpillar to remedy these vehicles. Please see caterpillar's defect report 09e-020. Caterpillar will inspect and repair the necessary components free of charge. The recall began on may 5, 2009. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1-800-447-4986 or daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 08V-159: Parking Brake
Problem: Daimler trucks is recalling 900 my 2008 freightliner argosy, argosy rhd, cascadia, columbia, century st, coronado, sterling acterra, l-line and western star 4900 trucks equipped with bendix mv-3 dash control valves. The molded valve body has an incorrect core pin in the injection mold causing the valve body to be oversized in the double check valve area. This condition can allow the rubber double check valve to become lodged in the body opening under certain circumstances.
Risk: If the double check valve becomes lodged, in the event of a primary reservoir failure, air pressure can leak past the lodged double check valve thereby depleting the secondary reservoir, causing reduced ability for modulating the service emergency brakes increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the mv-3 dash valve for the production date code. Valves in the affected production lots will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on october 9, 2008. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 07V-592: Steering
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with trw steering gears, models tas85 and rcs85, these steering gears contain potentially defective sector shafts with an incorrect gear tooth which may interfere with the rack-piston teeth, resulting in a stick or bind condition.
Risk: This condition has the potential to cause the steering gear to stall and restrict the steering turning angle of the vehicle which could result in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Freightliner is working with trw to replace the defective steering gear (Please see 07e101). The recall began on april 18, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 07V-530: Trailer Hitches
Problem: On certain truck-tractors equipped with holland simplex se or se II fifth wheels, the latch lever pivot bolt assembly may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve. Corrosion or contaminates in the pivot may cause it to bind and prevent the fifth wheel jaw from latching securely around the trailer king pin.
Risk: There is a possibility that the fifth wheel may fail to latch without the driver's knowledge. When the occurs, the driver could drive away and the trailer could become disengaged increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer. The recall began on january 3, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 07V-335: Fuel System, Gasoline
Problem: On certain trucks, a manufacturing error in the fuel-water separator preheater thermoswitch may prevent the fuel preheater from turning off if the ignition is left on. If the ignition switch is left on when fuel is added to the fuel- water separator at the factory or during a filter element change, a small flame may occur inside the filter cover.
Risk: The potential exists for the flame to spread resulting in possible personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel filter date code and thermoswitch lot code to determine if they contain the suspect component free of charge. The recall began on october 4, 2007. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Older recalls
| Recall | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07V-316 | Jul 24, 2007 | Suspension | On certain trucks equipped with tuftrac rear suspensions, the center casting brackets may be out of specification. |
| 07V-306 | Jul 18, 2007 | Steering | Freightliner is recalling certain school bus chassis, heavy trucks, van chassis, rv motorhome chassis manufactured from january 5 to may 17, 2007, equipped with axle alliance company (Aac) front axles. |
Other Western Star 4900 years
Compare all Western Star 4900 years · All Western Star models
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Western Star 4900 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 17 recalls for the 2008 Western Star 4900: 17V-810 (equipment), 17V-761 (exterior lighting), 12V-074 (engine and engine cooling), 11V-478 (fuel system, diesel), 11V-207 (engine and engine cooling) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Are Western Star recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Western Star dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.