2020 Western Star 4700 problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Western Star 4700, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 12 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Median mileage
- — at time of problem
Key facts
- Electrical System is the most-reported problem area, named in 1 of 2 complaints (50%).
- Steering (1) and brakes (1) follow.
- The 2020 Western Star 4700 has 12 recalls on file.
- It has the most serious complaint record of all 4 Western Star 4700 model years we track.
2020 Western Star 4700 problems by category
- Electrical System1 complaints
- Steering1 complaints
- Brakes1 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech1 complaints
- Engine1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance: warnings | 1 |
| Service brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
2020 Western Star 4700 recalls (12)
- TIRES · WHEELS:RIM
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Freightliner 114SD, 2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2020 Western Star 4700, 2019-2022 Western Star 4900, 2019-2023 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with tires that are not compatible with their 8.25-inch rims. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
Risk: Driving with tires that are not compatible with their rims can reduce tire performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-962.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Freightliner Cascadia, 2020-2022 Western Star 4700 and 5700, 2022 Western Star 4900, and 2020-2023 Freightliner New Cascadia vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the Federal Certification Label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will be replace the GAWR labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-933.
- FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Western Star 4700, 2019-2022 Freightliner 114SD, 2021-2022 Western Star 49X, Freightliner Cascadia P4, 2022 Western Star 47X, 2021 Western Star WF110, 2020 Western Star WJ121, and 2019-2021 FCCC XCP Chassis vehicles. The fuel tubes between the fuel rail and the injectors for cylinders four, five, and six may fatigue and crack, which can result in a high pressure fuel leak.
Risk: A high pressure fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tubes, and install vibration isolators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-915.
- TIRES
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2021 Freightliner SD 108, Freightliner SD 114, 2016-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2013 Western Star 6900, 2013-2022 Western Star 4700, Western Star 4900, and 2022 49X vehicles. The tires and rims are not approved and rated for these vehicles from the Tire and Rim Association or tire manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
Risk: Unapproved tires that are not rated for the vehicle can cause tire performance issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace, as necessary, tires and rims, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL-908.
- FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Freightliner Custom Chass XC Chassis, 108SD, Custom Chass XB Chassis, Business Class M2, 114SD, and Western Star 4700 vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel lines, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-886.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Western Star 4700 and Western Star 5700 vehicles. The ground harness wiring may be undersized and may cause a connector to melt.
Risk: Damage to the ground harness may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ground harness, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 22, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-880.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · TIRES
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Western Star 4700 and 4900 and Freightliner Coronado, 108SD and 114SD vehicles. The vehicle certification label contains incorrect information, stating a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) that exceeds the tire capacity rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other than passenger cars."
Risk: Incorrect weight rating information on the certification labels could result in potential overloading of the axles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install accurate GAWR labels, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-864.
- SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
Daimler Truckers North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Freightliner 114SD, 122SD and Western Star 4700, and 4900 vehicles equipped with certain SL2065 steerable lift axles. The lower rear pivot cap screws may not be long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts.
Risk: If the screws are not long enough to engage the corresponding nuts, the hardware may separate from the suspension system, becoming a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower rear pivot cap screws for the proper length, correcting the hardware as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-862.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Western Star 4700 and 5700 vehicles. A particular wire in the ground harness may be undersized, possibly resulting in a melted connector in the ground circuit harness. If the connector becomes damaged, under certain circumstances, the engine may stall without the ability to restart.
Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ground harness, free of charge. This recall began June 23, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-852.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Freightliner 108SD and 2020-2021 Freightliner Coronado, 114SD, and Western Star 4700 and 4900 vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label may be incorrect, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Wheels and Rims - Other Than Passenger Cars."
Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the GAWR labels, free of charge. The recall began May 28, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL847.
- SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Cascadia, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700 and 5700, Freightliner Custom Chassis S2, Custom Chassis XB, and Custom Chassis XC vehicles equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
Risk: Loose brake caliper mounting bolts can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-845.
- STEERING
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Western Star 4700 vehicles. The steering shaft may have been improperly installed, potentially causing a loss of connection between the steering wheel and front axle wheels.
Risk: This loss of connection would result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vehicles, correcting the steering shaft installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-835.
Recent 2020 Western Star 4700 complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Nov 10, 2025MSBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Automated emergency breaking ABS Forward collision warning, potentially others. Unsure if the vehicle is available for inspection due to insurance claim. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Collision mitigation system error. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Police and Insurance…
NHTSA complaint #11698636 · source - Filed Jan 31, 2025OHElectrical SystemEngineSteering
Western Star utilizes relay in master power distribution, they call PNDB. When this device is faulty it interrupts the power to engine causing truck engine to shut down. This shut down has happened with the truck fully loaded (71,000 LBS) traveling at 60 mph a couple of times. With no engine power you lose power steering. This is a very dangerous condition that I have discovered is more common than it should be. Talk to any Western Star service department. The Service…
NHTSA complaint #11639895 · source
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Other 2020 Western Star models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology