Steering shaft defect in 2021-2022 Western Star 49X commercial trucks
2021-2022 Western Star 49X trucks may have improperly installed steering shafts that can separate, causing loss of steering control. Daimler will inspect and repair affected vehicles free of charge.
NHTSA safety advisory
Do not drive this vehicle
NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.
This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: This is a structural vehicle defect affecting the steering system. Steering shaft separation directly causes loss of steering control, which poses significant risk of serious injury or death, meeting the structural vehicle defect criterion for Score 4, even though no injuries have yet been reported.
Plain-English summary
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC is recalling certain 2021-2022 Western Star 49X commercial trucks. The steering shaft may not have been properly installed, causing it to separate from the steering gear.
Steering shaft separation can result in loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Approximately 479 vehicles are affected.
Owners should not drive their vehicles until the steering shaft has been inspected. Dealers will perform the inspection and make any necessary repairs free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent on January 12, 2022.
For more information, owners can contact Daimler Trucks North America at 1-800-547-0712, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).
The recalled product
- Product
- WESTERN STAR 49X
- Brand
- WESTERN STAR
- Manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Affected units
- 479
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (1)
- 49X
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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