Fire hazard prompts Daimler to recall Wester Star 4900 trucks
Due to a design flaw that could potentially cause vehicle fires, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has initiated a recall for 2009 Western Star 4900 trucks. This recall has been issued on a voluntary basis in compliance with a request from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to a safety issue related to the vehicles’ power cables. The recall affects about one dozen 2009 Western Star 4900 trucks equipped with DD15 engines with a forward cab crossmember design. The design allows for reduced clearance for the cab mounted battery disconnect switch power cables on vehicles of standard cab height, creating the potential that the power cables may become pinched against the cab. Battery disconnect switch power cables pinched between the forward cab crossmember and cab may short to ground and overheat, potentially causing the vehicle to catch fire, posing an injury risk to the vehicle’s operator and anyone else in the vehicle’s immediate vicinity. DTNA will notify owners about the issue, which will be fixed by dealers at no cost additional cost to the consumer. Any cables that were damaged as a result of the defect will also be replaced free of cost. More information regarding this recall can be obtained by contacting Daimler Trucks’ customer support department, or by calling the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline and referencing NHTSA campaign identification number 12V235000.
