Recall on record for this model family
- NHTSA 17V810000 — EQUIPMENT NHTSA recall: official notice
- NHTSA 22V722000 — STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NHTSA recall: official notice
Verify the unit's serial number against the official notice before purchase.
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 11, 2026.
Documented failure points and real market prices for the Western Star 4700, sourced and dated.
Confidence 0%5 observed comparables
As of Sep 5, 2026What can make the cheap machine expensive?
| Component | Severity | Documented repair cost |
|---|---|---|
| variable geometry turbocharger | medium | not yet verified |
| air ride suspension | low | not yet verified |
| SCR / DEF system | medium | not yet verified |
EGR cooler cracking on the Detroit engine family commonly spec'd in the Western Star 4700 lets coolant leak into the exhaust.
Cost not yet verifiedVGT actuator failure on the Detroit engine family causes oil leaks and black smoke under load.
Cost not yet verifiedWestern Star air ride suspension requires more frequent adjustment than owners expect, with front air bags needing replacement by 200k-300k miles.
Cost not yet verifiedSCR system malfunctions on the Detroit engine family trigger derate mode when DEF injectors clog or NOx sensors fail.
Cost not yet verifiedDaimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product in...
Common questions
How much does a used Western Star 4700 cost?
Observed listings range roughly $42,500 to $179,900 depending on age, condition, and configuration (as of 2026-09-05).
What fails on the Western Star 4700?
The most cited concerns in our evidence record: variable geometry turbocharger, air ride suspension, SCR / DEF system. See the risk breakdown above for details and sources.
Is the Western Star 4700 under recall?
A safety recall exists for this model family. Verify the unit's serial number against the official notice linked on this page before buying.
Live listings on eBay
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From the research record
- FAILURE (2026-09-05, agent-fetched, Claude spot-verified sample): EGR cooler (Detroit DD13 engine, a common 4700 spec): "The cooler cracks internally, allowing coolant to mix with exhaust gases. You'll notice white smoke from the exhaust and coolant loss without visible leaks." https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/detroit-dd15-engine-known-issues-and-maintenance-tips
- FAILURE (2026-09-05, agent-fetched, Claude spot-verified sample): variable geometry turbocharger: "Oil leaks around the turbo housing. The variable geometry turbo (VGT) actuator fails frequently, causing poor acceleration and black smoke." https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/detroit-dd15-engine-known-issues-and-maintenance-tips
- FAILURE (2026-09-05, agent-fetched, Claude spot-verified sample): air ride suspension: "Air ride needs adjustment more often than my old truck, but the ride quality is worth it." https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/western-star-49x-what-owners-say-about-reliability
- FAILURE (2026-09-05, agent-fetched, Claude spot-verified sample): SCR / DEF system: "The DEF injector clogs, the SCR catalyst deteriorates, or the NOx sensors fail" https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/detroit-dd15-engine-known-issues-and-maintenance-tips
- MARKET (5 real listings, 2026-09-05): low $42,500 / median $149,900 / high $179,900. Agent-sourced: 5 real listings from 5 different dealers (2016-2022, 108k-385k mi). $42,500-$179,900, median $149,900; the low end is an older, higher-mileage unit, the cluster near $150-180k are newer lower-mileage vocational trucks.
- RECALL (17V810000, EQUIPMENT): Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers ...
- RECALL (22V722000, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY): Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Western Star 4700 and 2023 Western Star 4900, 49X, 6900, and Freightliner 114SD vehicles. The tie rod clamps may have been improperly heat-treated, causing them to crack and allowing the tie rods to separate.
Sources
- skylinerrepaircenter.com (failure evidence)repair-industry · verified · accessed 2026-09-05
- skylinerrepaircenter.com (failure evidence)repair-industry · verified · accessed 2026-09-05
- soarr.com dealer inventory (5 real listings)dealer-inventory-aggregator · verified · accessed 2026-09-05
- NHTSA recall 17V810000 (EQUIPMENT)nhtsa-recall · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-11
- NHTSA recall 22V722000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY)nhtsa-recall · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-11
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