The 1989 Western Star Conventional has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 18,234 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THESE HEAVY TRUCKS WERE EQUIPPED WITH EXHAUST MUFFLERS WITHOUT HEAT SHIELDING.
SOMEONE WORKING BEHIND THE CAB COULD CONTACT THE HOT MUFFLER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. ALSO SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DECK PLATES WITH NO GRAB HANDLES FOR ACCESS.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL MUFFLER SHIELDS AND, WHERE NECESSARY, GRAB HANDLES.
THE BRAKE RETURN SPRINGS ON THE FRONT BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE FRONT HUBS AS THE BRAKE PADS AND DRUMS WEAR, RESULTING IN SPRING FAILURE. A PIECE OF THE FAILED SPRING CAN LODGE IN THE BRAKE CAM CAUSING THE BRAKE TO DRAG AND THE STEERING TO PULL TO ONE SIDE.
STEERING PULL FROM THE DRAGGING BRAKE CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT HUBS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
THE ALUMINUM REAR SPRING SHACKLE BRACKETS HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS WHICH CAN LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BRACKETS FROM THE FRAME RAIL.
THE SUSPENSION CAN DROP DOWN ON ONE SIDE, CAUSING A REDUCTION OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPRING BRACKETS.
THE CAB ACCESS GRAB HANDLES HAVE THINNER THAN SPECIFIED WALL THICKNESS AND ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FAILURE BREAKING AT THE BEND RADIUS NEAR THE UPPER MOUNTING BOLT HOLE.
FAILURE DURING USE OF THE GRAB HANDLES CAN CAUSE AUSER TO FALL RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
WESTERN STAR DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND DESTROY THE RECALLED GRAB HANDLES. NEW HANDLES WILL BE INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES.
PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ALUMINUM CLUTCH RELEASE LEVER CAN OCCUR FROM STRESS CORROSION DUE TO CONTINUOUS LOADING OF THE LEVER AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT SPRAY.
IF THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THECLUTCH IS RENDERED INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATOR CANNOT CONTROL THEVEHICLE SPEED BY UP-SHIFTING OR DOWN-SHIFTING, WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL.
REPLACE THE ALUMINUM LEVER WITH AN IRON LEVER.
WHEN BRAKE AIR LINES AND BATTERY ELECTRICAL CABLES ARE ROUTED THROUGH THE ANGLE BRACKETS ON THE FRAME RAILS, THE LEAF SPRING MAY RUB AGAINST THE BATTERY CABLES OR AIR LINES, CAUSING FRAYING AND EVENTUALLY RUPTURE.
IF THE BATTERY CABLES ARE SUFFICIENTLY FRAYED, THE CABLESMAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND RESULT IN A FIRE. IF THE BRAKE AIR LINES ARERUPTURED OR PUNCTURED, SEVERELY DECREASED BRAKING ABILITY MAY ENSUE.
REROUTE BATTERY AND AIR LINE HOSES AWAY FROM THE REAR TRANSMISSION SUPPORT SPRING.
THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS MAY FAIL DURING NORMAL OPERATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
IF BOTH THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS FAIL THE ENGINE THROTTLENAT NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSTION WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THIS MAYRESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS.
SEAT BELTS DESIGNED FOR USE ON DRIVER'S SEATS WERE INSTALLED ON PASSENGER SEATS; THIS CAUSES THE STRAP CONNECTING THE BUCKLE TO THE FLOOR TO BE TWISTED.
STRESSES WITHIN THE BUCKLE RESULT IN FAILURE TO COMPLYWITH FMVSS 210.
REPLACE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Western Star Conventional as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.