2021 Western Star 49X problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
No owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Western Star 49X yet. There are 13 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 13
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Median mileage
- — at time of problem
Safety warning: at least one recall for this vehicle tells owners not to drive it until it is repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Key facts
- The 2021 Western Star 49X has 13 recalls on file, including at least one “do not drive” warning.
2021 Western Star 49X recalls (13)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Western Star 49X and 2021-2027 Western Star 47X vehicles. A stud connecting the battery to the starter at the frame rail may have been incorrectly installed or may corrode, which can cause a short circuit.
Risk: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the studs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1029. This recall replaces and expands NHTSA recall number 25V326. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
- SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Western Star 49X, Freightliner Business Class M2, Freightliner 114SD, Freightliner 108SD, 2021-2026 Western Star 47X, 2021-2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2022 Western Star 48X, and 2023 Western Star 4700 vehicles. The axle clamp fasteners may be loose, which can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1027.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Western Star 49X and 2021-2026 Western Star 47X vehicles. A stud connecting the battery to the starter at the frame rail may have been incorrectly installed, which can cause a short circuit.
Risk: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: DTNA will inspect and replace damaged cables and loose hardware. In addition, DTNA will properly tighten hardware and install dielectric tape. All repairs will be performed, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1020. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 26V079. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Freightliner 108SD, 2022-2025 Freightliner 114SD, Freightliner Business Class M2, 2025 Freightliner eM2, 2020-2025 Western Star 49X, 2021-2025 Western Star 47X, and 2022-2025 Western Star 57X vehicles that may be upfitted with a body lighting interface controller and replacement brake lights. The brake lights may not illuminate when the brakes are automatically applied during an active brake assist (ABA) event.
Risk: Brake lights that fail to illuminate can fail to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ABA software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2024. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is F1009.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 49X vehicles. The hazard warning lights may flash improperly during an Advanced Braking Assist event. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Hazard warning lights that flash improperly may cause confusion for other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software controlling the hazard warning lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL851.
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:MODULATOR
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Freightliner Cascadia, 2020-2023 Western Star 49X, 2021-2023 Western Star 47X, and 2022 Freightliner 114SD vehicles. The brake modulator valves on the front axle may corrode and cause the vehicle to pull to the affected side during braking initiated by Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Roll Stability Control (RSC).
Risk: Brakes that pull to one side may cause a sudden change in vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake modulator valves, as necessary. Some vehicles will have a software update which will alert driver when a replacement is required. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 13, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL966.
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL · SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:MODULATOR
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Freightliner Cascadia, 2020-2022 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2022 Freightliner 114SD, and 2020-2023 Western Star 49X, 2021-2023 Western Star 47X, and 2021-2022 Western Star 57X vehicles. The brake modulator valves on the front axle may corrode and cause the vehicle to pull to the affected side during an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) braking event.
Risk: Brakes that pull to one side during an ACC braking event may cause a sudden change in vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake modulator valves, as necessary. Some vehicles will have a software update which will alert driver when a replacement is required. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 16, 2023. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-958. This recall expands and replaces previous recall 20V-390. All vehicles previously repaired under recall 20V-390 will need to have the new remedy performed.
- STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
Daimler Truck North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 47X and 49X vehicles. The hood bezel covers may detach.
Risk: Detached hood bezel covers may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and install rivets on the hood bezel covers, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-951.
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Western Star 49X and 2021 Western Star 47X vehicles. The windshield wiper linkages may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper arm and linkage parts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-926.
- STRUCTURE:BODY
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Western Star 47X, 2020-2023 Western Star 49X, and 2021-2022 Western Star 57X vehicles equipped with side air intakes on the hood. The stainless steel cover on the side air intake may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached side air intake cover may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the stainless steel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-925.
- 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.
- STEERING
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Western Star 49X vehicles. The steering shaft may not have been properly installed, causing it to separate from the steering gear.
Risk: Steering shaft separation can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the inspection has been performed. Dealers will inspect the steering shaft and repair it, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is 905.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Freightliner Cascadia P4, 2021 Western Star WH126, 2020 Western Star WJ121, and 2021-2022 Western Star 49X vehicles. The battery cable terminal may break, resulting in a loss of electrical power and unintended engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the battery cables, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 7, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-893.
Recent 2021 Western Star 49X complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
No narrative complaints on file.
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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