WESTERN STAR Recalls

Aug 22, 2000 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

May 05, 2000 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON AUTOSHIFT GEN II TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLIES. DUE TO A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLIES, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SELECT THE WRONG GEAR.

Nov 30, 1999 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 15" (WIDTHS: 4" AND 5") AIR-ACTUATED Q-PLUS CAM BRAKE EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL MOGUL FRICTION PRODUCTS 3030-197 BRAKE LINING (MERITOR R201) BRAKE LININGS AND ACTUATED WITH TYPE 20 AIR CHAMBERS X 5.5" SLACK ADJUSTERS. THE AFFECTED BRAKES WERE INSTALLED PREDOMINANTLY IN HEAVY TRUCK FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES. THESE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT FULLY SATISFY THE TEST PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."

May 06, 1999 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS ASSEMBLED WITH SKF LEVEL 2 TRUCK HUB UNITS (THU) RECEIVED FROM MERITOR. THESE HUBS CAN FATIGUE CRACK.

Sep 14, 1997 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY 6X4 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EITHER HENDRICKSON RT/RS SERIES SUSPENSIONS OR CHALMERS 800 SERIES SUSPENSIONS, WITH A WHEEL BASE GREATER THAN 250 INCHES, AND WESTERN STAR'S AIR '96' AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE AIR BRAKE RELEASE TIME REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Sep 14, 1997 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FONTAINE SL6FM229-8375 FIXED FIFTH WHEELS. THE FIFTH WHEEL MOUNTING PLATE FLANGES IN THE FRONT AND REAR CAN INTERFERE WITH THE NORMAL ARTICULATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL. THIS INTERFERENCE CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK HANDLE AND/OR THE TOP PLATE.

Apr 25, 1997 – VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVENTIONAL TRUCKS AND TRUCK/TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH A FIREWALL ADAPTER PLATE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT BOOT. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TOP OF THE OPENING IN THE ADAPTER PLATE CAN CAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT TO CONTACT THE TOP OF THE FIREWALL ADAPTER OPENING WEARING A GROOVE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. IF THE GROOVE IS ALLOWED TO WEAR DEEP ENOUGH, THE SHAFT CAN FAIL.

Aug 01, 1996 – THE EQUALIZING BEAM SHAFT OF THE TANDEM AXLE SUSPENSION WERE MANUFACTURED FROM AS-ROLLED SAE4140 STEEL RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIED ANNEALED SAE4140. THESE SHAFTS CAN FRACTURE INSIDE THE BEAM AT THE TOE OF THE WELD.

Aug 01, 1996 – THE BRAKE RETURN SPRING CAN CONTACT THE HUB. FURTHER WEAR OF THE BRAKE LINING MATERIAL WILL LEAD TO WEAR OF THE RETURN SPRING AND THE SPRING CAN FAIL PREMATURELY.

Jun 17, 1996 – THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM CAN INTERFERE WITH THE MAIN CAB DASH HARNESS WHICH PASSES BEHIND THE CENTER DASH SECTION. THE WIPER ARM CAN WEAR THROUGH ONE OR MORE OF THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.