Total Complaints
2 filings
WESTERN STAR 496 · model year
1996 WESTERN STAR 496
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996WESTERN STAR496 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 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 1996 496 is suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket 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 1996 496 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
2
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 |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20020514FatalSUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET
THE DEFENDANT VEHICLE'S FRONT HANGER BOLT ON THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FAILED AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE IT STRUCK THE ATTORNEY'S CLIENTS VEHICLE KILLING HIM. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH
20011024FatalSUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET
THE DEFENDANT VEHICLE'S FRONT HANGER BOLT ON THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FAILED AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE IT STRUCK THE ATTORNEY'S CLIENTS VEHICLE KILLING HIM. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH
Compare 1996WESTERN STAR496 to Similar Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 WESTERN STAR 496 have?▼
The 1996 WESTERN STAR 496 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 WESTERN STAR 496?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 WESTERN STAR 496 is SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1996 WESTERN STAR 496 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.