The worst 2021 Western Star 5700 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 7
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020 Freightliner Cascadia, 2020-2022 Western Star 4700 and 5700, 2022 Western Star 4900, and 2020-2023 Freightliner New Cascadia vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the Federal Certification Label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
- Risk
- An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will be replace the GAWR labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-933.
Recall number 22V338000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Freightliner 114SD, 122SD, Business Class M2, Cascadia, 108SD, Western Star 4900, 4700, 5700, Custom Chass RV Chassis, Custom Chass S2 Chassis, Custom Chass XC Chassis, Custom Chass XB Chassis, and Custom Chass MT Chassis. The tie rod clamps may be loose, which could result in loose tie rod ends that could break or detach.
- Risk
- Detached or broken tie rod ends can result in steering loss, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the tie rod clamp bolts and nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-888.
Recall number 21V369000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2, 114SD, 108SD, 122SD, Custom Chass S2 Chassis, Custom Chass XB Chassis, Custom Chass XC Chassis, and Custom Chass MT Chassis Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700 vehicles. The steering arm and tie rod bolts may have a defective seam that can fracture.
- Risk
- A fractured bolt may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod arm and steering arm bolts, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-884.
Recall number 21V256000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Western Star 4700 and Western Star 5700 vehicles. The ground harness wiring may be undersized and may cause a connector to melt.
- Risk
- Damage to the ground harness may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ground harness, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 22, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-880.
Recall number 21V206000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling 2021 Western Star 4700 and 5700, Freightliner Business Class M2, Cascadia, and Custom Chassis XC Chassis vehicles manufactured with a certain steering arm configuration with air disc brakes identified by the axle assembly supplier. On certain vehicles, one of the six brake caliper mounting bolts on the driver side steer axle may have been incorrectly tightened.
- Risk
- The loose bolt could result in the other caliper bolts to loosen. Insufficiently tightened bolts may not provide adequate clamping force between the brake caliper and brake anchor plate, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-873.
Recall number 21V018000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear: axle: spindle
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2021 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD and Business Class M2 and Western Star 4700, 4900 and 5700 vehicles. The steer axle spindle nut snap-ring locking feature may be incorrectly installed or missing from the left spindle nut at the spindle.
- Risk
- A missing or improperly installed locking snap ring can result in wheel-end failure and potentially a wheel-off/separation condition, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hub cap plug, and reinstall or replace of the snap-ring as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-866.
Recall number 20V660000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Western Star 4700 and 5700 vehicles. A particular wire in the ground harness may be undersized, possibly resulting in a melted connector in the ground circuit harness. If the connector becomes damaged, under certain circumstances, the engine may stall without the ability to restart.
- Risk
- An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ground harness, free of charge. This recall began June 23, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-852.
Recall number 20V281000 · Recall details
See all 7 recalls for the 2021 Western Star 5700
Defect investigations
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. ODIâs 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
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 unexpected and sudden vehicle deceleration. ODI sent an information request letter to DTNA on June 15, 2023.In its September 1, 2023, response, 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 for 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. ODIâs analysis shows that of the Detroit Assurance versions, all fail at similar rates. The Wabco 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 Number) reports that may relate to the alleged defect, which include 24 involving a crash, 13 reports involving an alleged injury and one report with a fatality. PE23010 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA25006) to further assess the scope, frequency, and nature of the inadvertent AEB activations in MY 2017-2022 Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 5700 vehicles.In particular, this EA will assess the safety consequences likely to arise in the scenarios during which the AEB inadvertently and unexpectedly activates, such as the speeds and conditions during which the activation occurs. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE23010
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Western Star 5700 107
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Warranty Information letter for Detroit Line or Line Seal, High Pressure Fuel Injector Standard Repair...
- Parts Bulletin for Fluorosilicone Fuel Tank Cap Seals
- CX Advocate for discolored coolant surge tanks (24CSA-20)
- Technical Service Bulletin for TufTrac M12 Bolts
- CX Advocate for ConMet Oil Pan Insert Additional Issues
- CX Advocate for technical questions/issues raised
- Revised Customer Service Annoucement for No Trouble Found Heavy Duty Engine Product (HDEP) Oil Separator Leaks
- Parts Bulletin for Tie Rod Assembly Part Breakdown
- Service Solution for DT12 Oil Plug Ports
- CX Advocate for NOx conversion low faults
Compare the 2021 Western Star 5700
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Questions about the 2021 Western Star 5700
Is the 2021 Western Star 5700 reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2021 Western Star 5700.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Western Star 5700?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2021 Western Star 5700 have?
7 recalls, covering equipment, steering and electrical system.
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