AI Damage1999 Western Star 4964: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Western Star 4964 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 50% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 50% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 2 complaints (50% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl contact owns a 2001 western star 4964sx rv (na). The contact stated that the failure of the pusher axle (axle number 01-3-1-11) was causing the steering to deviate from the direction he attempted to steer. The dealer acknowledged the failure, but did not provide a remedy.
Brake hose chaffing against frame, routed incorrectly under sleeper causing rupture. Refer to diagrams shown with report.
The 5 air ride suspension valves would be at different heights all the time. Would "dump out" while going around curbs or corners or even at stops. The rubber ends on the rods were replaced with metal rods. They were not adjusted correctly. This caused vehicle to pull hard to the right. Would vibrate violently.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,524 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Western Star 4964?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, suspension. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Western Star 4964?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Western Star 4964 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.