WESTERN STAR 4900 · model year

2001 WESTERN STAR 4900

2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001WESTERN 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 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 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 2001 4900 is suspension:multiple axle with 1 filings, followed by air bags (1). 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. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

No open NHTSA investigation overlaps the 2001 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
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE1
AIR BAGS1

Recalls (3)

03V11200021/03/2003

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

02V08700020/03/2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A CAPACITOR IN THE POWER LINE CONTROL (PLC) FILTER COULD OVERHEAT AND/OR IGNITE WHEN SUBJECTED TO REVERSE POLARITY ELECTRICAL SPIKES.

05V45300005/10/2005

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS FITTED WITH OPTIONAL IN-CAB BATTERIES, THE DUAL SUCTION/RETURN LINES MAY CONTACT THE CAB POWER HARNESS RESULTING IN CHAFING THROUGH.

Recent Complaints

20141216CrashFatalAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE SECOND VEHICLE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE LIMITED AND THE SPECIFICS ON WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20080314SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4964SX (NA). THE VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSTALLATION COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT THE PUSHER AXLE WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. THE SPEED AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,068 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Mileage: 1,000

Compare 2001WESTERN STAR4900 to Similar Vehicles

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 have?
The 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900?
Yes, the 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900?
The most-complained component for the 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 is SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS.
Is the 2001 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.