Total Complaints
2 filings
WESTERN STAR 4900 · model year
1998 WESTERN STAR 4900
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998WESTERN STAR4900 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 4900 is tires with 2 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
No open NHTSA investigation overlaps the 1998 4900 in the current dataset. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20150920TIRES
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @30 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND TORE UP THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE THE MATE TO THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS DEFECTED TO. SO IT SEEMS AS IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTED. BOTH TIRES WERE BOUGHT AND PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME. KELLY GOODYEAR BALLOON TYPE STEER TIRES (ARMORSTEEL)
20150920TIRES
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD @30 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND TORE UP THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, I HAVE THE MATE TO THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IT IS DEFECTED TO. SO IT SEEMS AS IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTED. BOTH TIRES WERE BOUGHT AND PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME. KELLY GOODYEAR BALLOON TYPE STEER TIRES (ARMORSTEEL)
Compare 1998WESTERN STAR4900 to Similar Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 WESTERN STAR 4900 have?▼
The 1998 WESTERN STAR 4900 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 WESTERN STAR 4900?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 WESTERN STAR 4900 is TIRES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1998 WESTERN STAR 4900 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.