The Western Star 4900 is a vehicle built from 1981 to 2026. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 4900 is
The Western Star 4900 is a vehicle that Western Star built from 1981 to 2026 — 46 model years.
Where the 4900 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 7 4900s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 5KK | 2005-2020 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Western Star VIN decide which of these lines your 4900 belongs to. What every character in a 4900 VIN means →
Western Star 4900 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 4900 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Western Star 4900 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The 4900 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Western Star 4900. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 4900 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 236 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 17 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Used value | 15 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Western Star 4900?
The 4900 is a vehicle, built from 1981 to 2026.
Where is the Western Star 4900 made?
Across 7 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Western Star 4900 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 4900 reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 4900?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.