Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2014 Western Star 4900
NHTSA data on file today
The 2014 Western Star 4900 has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V896000 Unapproved Tire and Rim Combination/FMVSS 120 NHTSA notice
- 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 #16V711000 Seat Belt Anchor Plate may Fail under Load NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V182000 Kidde Handheld Fire Extinguisher may not Discharge NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V527000 Trucks were Manufactured Without ABS/FMVSS 121 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V150000 Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V604000 Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V401000 Seatbelt Anchorage Point may be Weak NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 2 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
- Tires 1 complaint
- Trailer Hitches 1 complaint
- Wheels 1 complaint
Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$18,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2014 Western Star 4900 faces several critical issues, notably in steering, brakes, and seat belts, as highlighted by multiple recalls. It shows vulnerabilities in safety-critical components, especially affecting long-term reliability and safety.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| tie rod | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| seat belt | 40,000–70,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| brake hose | 40,000–90,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
| brake light switch | 30,000–60,000 miles | $100–$250 | 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 change every 10,000 miles
- Brake system inspection annually
- Check tie rod and suspension annually
- Replace air filters every 15,000 miles
- Coolant system flush every 40,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual steering vibrations
- Loose seat belt buckle
- Brake pedal requires excessive force
- Chafing or leaky brake hoses
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2014 Western Star 4900 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.