Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Western Star 4900
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Western Star 4900 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V503000 Tie-Rod Separation Due to Vibration NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V351000 Front Brake Hose may Chafe NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V810000 Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V761000 Brake Lights May Not Activate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V401000 Seatbelt Anchorage Point may be Weak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V074000 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V605000 EMERGENCY VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTDOWN NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V283000 BRAKE VALVE AIR LINE ROUTING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
The complaint on file reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $25,000–$35,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Western Star 4900 presents a moderate reliability profile with some critical recalls mostly related to braking and the engine. However, given the spread of issues across several essential systems without overwhelming occurrence rates, the vehicle fares as average in reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| tie rod assembly | 60,000–80,000 miles | $1,500–$2,000 | common |
| brake lines | 50,000–70,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | common |
| fuel pressure line | 40,000–60,000 miles | $1,000–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections every year
- Tie rod checks
- Engine coolant replacement
- Fuel system inspections
- Air filter replacement
- Transmission fluid change
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Vibrations during braking
- Chafed brake hoses
- Engine shutdown warnings
- Fuel leaks
- Brake light failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Western Star 4900 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.