Western Star 4900 · model year

2009 Western Star 4900

1 NHTSA complaints, and 16 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
1
Recalls
16

The verdict

The 2009 Western Star 4900 posts top-10% complaint standing among its own model-year siblings.

Top 8%
fewest complaints, own model years
16
recall campaigns

The 2009Western Star4900 carries 1 consumer safety complaint 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.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2009 4900 is visibility/wiper with 1 filings. Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

No open NHTSA investigation overlaps the 2009 4900 in the current dataset. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2009 Western Star 4900

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

1 filings

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

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY/WIPER1

Recalls (16)

11V20700029/03/2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 CERT

17V76100028/11/2017

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

12V07400028/02/2012

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

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

10V34100027/07/2010

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

10V33900027/07/2010

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, M2, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 19, 2009 THROUGH JULY 9, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC DD13 AND DD15 ENGINES ASSEMBLED WITH A BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL

09V36600023/09/2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

12V23500023/05/2012

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING 12 MY 2009 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS BUILT WITH DD15 ENGINES. A NEW FORWARD CAB CROSSMEMBER DESIGN REDUCED CLEARANCE FOR CAB MOUNTED BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH POWER CABLES ON STANDARD CAB HEIGHT VEHICLES. DURING CAB ARTICULATION, THE NEW CROSSMEMBER

10V11200023/03/2010

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

09V22600018/06/2009

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 53 MY 2009-2010 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS BUILT WITH DD15 ENGINES. A NEW FORWARD CAB CROSSMEMBER DESIGN REDUCED CLEARANCE FOR CAB MOUNTED BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH POWER CABLES ON STANDARD CAB HEIGHT VEHICLES. DURING CAB ARTICULATION THE NEW CROSSMEMBER MAY PINCH POWER

11V28700018/05/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, M2, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 19, 2009, THROUGH JULY 9, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC DD13 AND DD15 ENGINES ASSEMBLED WITH A BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUE

17V81000015/12/2017

EQUIPMENT

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 tha

09V40000008/10/2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 GR

09V39000006/10/2009

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 5, 2008 AND JANUARY 7, 2009, EQUIPPED DD15 ENGINES AND WITH BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS. THE FASTENERS ON THESE FUEL PUMPS COULD BE UNDER-TORQUED ALLOWING THE "O" RING BETWEEN THE PUMP HOUSING AND THE BARRE

09V39100006/10/2009

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

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

13V40100005/09/2013

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Western Star 4900 vehicles manufactured May 27, 2008, through March 22, 2013. A potential misalignment of a clearance hole in the B-pillar reinforcement may affect the performance of the seatbelt D-ring anchorage poin

11V14600003/03/2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 AI

Recent Complaints

20120606VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN A RAIN STORM, THE DEFROSTER FAILED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,110.

Mileage: 200,110

Compare 2009Western Star4900 to Similar Vehicles

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 Western Star 4900 have?
The 2009 Western Star 4900 has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 Western Star 4900?
Yes, the 2009 Western Star 4900 has 16 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Western Star 4900?
The most-complained component for the 2009 Western Star 4900 is VISIBILITY/WIPER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2009 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.

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2009 Western Star 4900; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.