1984 Western Star WESTERN STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 1984-10-16 (October 16, 1984)

SOME DOOR LATCHES MAY NOT BE SECURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE SPRINGS MAY DETACH FROM THE LATCH AT ANY TIME. IF THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE IS SLAMMED THE SPRING MAY BECOME DISLODGED, PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. VIBRATIONS OF THE VEHICLE OVER A ROUGH ROAD MAY CAUSE THE SPRING TO DISLODGE, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO SWING OPEN BY ITSELF.

Remedy: DEFECTIVE LATCHES WILL BE REPLACED WITH A CORRECTED TYPE.

Reported: 1984-10-16 (October 16, 1984)

THE TRAILER STOP LAMP WIRE WAS MISTAKENLY OMITTED FROM AN INSTALLATION DIAGRAM AND MAY NOT BE CONNECTED TO ITS TERMINAL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." IF THE TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK HAS SEPARATE STOP AND TURN SIGNAL LAMPS, THE STOP LAMPS WILL NOT OPERATE.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE TRAILER CABLE WIRING AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1984-12-05 (December 5, 1984)

A DEFECTIVE TOGGLE SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE SLEEPER OF SOME TRUCKS. THE PROBLEM MAY CAUSE AN INTERMITTENT SHORT CIRCUIT, RESULTING FROM CONSTANT VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TERMINAL TO WEAR THROUGH THE INSULATING MATERIAL.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT FOR THE DEFECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A TOGGLE SWITCH BOX TO PREVENT A SHORT CIRCUIT. THIS WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE.

Reported: 1985-08-26 (August 26, 1985)

THE LAP BELT MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY WHEN IT IS SUBJECTED TO SEVERE LOADS, SUCH AS A FRONTAL ACCIDENT, DUE TO INTERFERENCE BY TWO SEAT FRAME BOLTS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SEAT BELT FAILURE DURING AN ACCIDENT CAUSES THE OCCUPANT TO BE UNRESTRAINED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SEVERE OR FATAL INJURY.

Remedy: INSTALL 1.5 INCH LONG SPACER BETWEEN TETHER BAR AND SEAT BELT ANCHORING PLATE.

Reported: 1986-02-04 (February 4, 1986)

THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN OR CAN START UP WHEN THE SENTINEL SHUTDOWN UNIT BLOCKS THE FLOW OF FUEL. THIS ALLOWS FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL LINE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL LINE OR FILTER TO SPLIT OPEN AND LEAK OR SPRAY FUEL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS, THE FUEL LEAKING OR SPRAYING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. NOTE: AN IMMEDIATE STEP TO BE TAKEN TO PREVENT A FAILURE IS TO TURN THE CONTROL HANDLE ON THE SENTINEL SHUTDOWN UNIT FROM "RUN" TO "BYPASS".

Remedy: INSTALL A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE INTO THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE.