VehicleVerdict

2017 Western Star 5700 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2017 Western Star 5700 carries two red flags at once: 0 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Automatic Emergency Braking Errors). It is one of the 5700 years to avoid.

0

NHTSA complaints

12

Recalls

3

Investigations · 1 open

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2017 compare to other 5700 years?

See all 5700 years to avoid →

Does the 2017 Western Star 5700 have recalls?

12 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V882000Electrical SystemNovember 12, 2021 · 6,100 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks. The affected trucks have a power stud that passes through the bulkhead. In certain circumstances, the power stud may contact the bulkhead and result in an electrical arc.

Consequence

An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the pass-through power studs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. This recall supersedes previous recall number 18V-191. Vehicles previously inspected and considered complete under 18V-191 will need to return for the new remedy. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-907.

20V214000LightingApril 14, 2020 · 63,175 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2006-2020 Freightliner Columbia, 2006-2021 Freightliner Business Class M2, 2007-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2014-2021 Freightliner 122 SD, 2007 Sterling A 9500, 2006 Freightliner Argosy, 2006-2007 Sterling AT9500, 2008-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2006-2008 Freightliner Classic, 2006-2011 Freightliner Century Class, 2006-2010 Freightliner FLD, and 2017 Western Star 5700 vehicles. The rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, which may reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

The vehicle's rearward visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the reflective tape to ensure that it is completely visible, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL848.

19V792000Visibility & WipersNovember 4, 2019 · 2,725 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Western Star 4900 and 5700 vehicles equipped with sleeper cab vent windows. Due to improper adhesive, the vent window may detach from the vehicle.

Consequence

If the vent window detaches while the vehicle is in motion, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vent windows, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on December 27, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-836.

19V722000Body & StructureOctober 10, 2019 · 2,547 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Western Star 4900 and 5700 vehicles. The adhesive bond may fail allowing the baggage or sleeper side door to separate from the hinges.

Consequence

A baggage or sleeper side door that separates from the vehicle while in motion can cause road debris, increasing the risk of an injury or crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners and dealers will install reinforcement clips with mechanical fasteners on each baggage and sleeper door hinge, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on December 6, 2019. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL834.

18V913000SuspensionDecember 19, 2018 · 501 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Freightliner 114SD, 122SD, 108SD, Cascadia and Business class M2 trucks, Freightliner Custom Chassis XBS, XCL, XCM, MT45, MT55, S2G, S2RV, XCR and XCS custom chassis and Western Star 4700, 4900 and 5700 trucks equipped with Detroit Axle axles. The affected vehicles may have loose steering and tie rod arm bolts.

Consequence

Loose tie rod arm bolts may lead to separation of the tie rod arm, resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the steering arm and tie rod arm bolts for to make sure that they are properly tightened, installing new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2019. Owners may contact Daimler Trucks at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-802.

18V353000BrakesMay 29, 2018 · 8,741 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Freightliner M2 Business Class, 108SD, 114SD and Cascadia trucks, Western Star 4700, 4900, and 5700 trucks, FCCC S2C 106 Cab, S2G Cab, XBR, XBS, XCL, XCM, XCP, XCR, and XCS chassis equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts on these vehicles may be insufficiently tightened, allowing the bolts to loosen.

Consequence

If the brake caliper mounting bolts loosen, braking performance may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper mounting bolts and tighten them as necessary, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on July 25, 2018. The recall began September 4, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-772.

18V191000Electrical SystemMarch 26, 2018 · 7,128 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks. The affected trucks have a power stud that passes through the bulkhead. In certain circumstances the power stud may contact the bulkhead and result in an electrical arc.

Consequence

An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the power stud for the proper clearance to the bulkhead, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. DTNA issued an interim notification to owners on May 23, 2018. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-766.

17V810000OtherDecember 15, 2017 · 24,860 units

Defect

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 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 inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.

17V761000LightingNovember 27, 2017 · 438,255 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks. After hard brake applications, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights with a light application of the brake pedal.

Consequence

If the brake lights fail to illuminate, there would not be a signal to other motorists that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. Daimler issued interim notifications to owners on January 22, 2018. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-756.

17V315000TransmissionMay 11, 2017 · 698 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017 Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 5700 trucks built with NFD tandem rear axles. During the hardening process, the axle assembly output shaft may have been made brittle, possibly resulting in the output shaft fracturing while the vehicle is in use.

Consequence

If output shaft fractures while descending a grade, the compression braking will be ineffective. Additionally, large debris may land in the road. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify the owners, and Detroit Axle dealers will replace the output shaft, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-738.

16V711000Seat BeltsOctober 5, 2016 · 1,944 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Western Star 4900 and 5700 trucks manufactured March 22, 2013, to September 23, 2016 and equipped with a Stratosphere sleeper cab. The seat belt mounting plate may have a drill hole that is too large.

Consequence

If the plate has a hole that is too big, the plate may fail when it stressed such as in the event of a crash, preventing the seat belt from adequately restraining the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt mounting plate, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on December 7 2016. The final remedy is now available. A second notice was mailed to owners on February 24, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-725.

16V634000TransmissionAugust 31, 2016 · 156 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Freightliner M2 Business Class, 108 SD, 114 SD, Cascadia, Coronado, Western Star 4700, 4800, and 5700 XE trucks manufactured March 15, 2013, to July 29, 2016 and equipped with Conmet aluminum non-high capacity hubs. These vehicles specify a front axle weight limit that may be greater than that of the hub capacity. As a result, the hub may fail and the wheel may separate from the axle.

Consequence

If a wheel separates from the axle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle hubs, free of charge. The recall began during November 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-718.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA25006

Automatic Emergency Braking Errors

On May 26, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23010) to assess reports of false positive activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2017-2022 Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) vehicles. The reports alleged that activation of the AEB system occurred while driving with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. DTNA indicated that it received of a total of 315 reports that may relate to the alleged defect in MY 2017-2022 DTNA vehicles. DTNA stated that the vast majority of false positive activation of the subject systems occur in very limited durations and result in a five mile per hour deceleration. ODI considered four AEB systems offered by DTNA: Detroit Assurance 2.0, Detroit Assurance 4.0, Detroit Assurance 5.0, and Wabco OnGuard.  ODI’s analysis shows that of the Detroit Assurance versions, all are failing at similar rates. The OnGuard AEB systems equipped on the same model and model year vehicles have experienced a significantly lower claim rate. To date, ODI has received a total of 32 consumer complaints of inadvertent activation of AEB in MY 2017-2022 DTNA vehicles. In total, ODI reviewed 347 unique (i.e., non-duplicative Vehicle Identification Numbers) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include 24 reports involving a crash, 13 reports involving an alleged injury and one report with a fatality. PE23010 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2017-2022 DTNA vehicles. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

2017 Western Star 5700 — common questions

Is the 2017 Western Star 5700 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 0 complaints put the 2017 model at #5 of 21 5700 years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the 5700 years to avoid.

Does the 2017 Western Star 5700 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns affecting the 2017 Western Star 5700. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2017 Western Star 5700 under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Automatic Emergency Braking Errors). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Western Star 5700 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the 5700 years to avoid are 2022, 2019, 2018, 2020, 2017, 2021. The cleanest record among 5700 years belongs to 2016.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.