# Western Star 4900: Used-Buy Risk, Price & Recalls | Big Rig Risk

> Used Western Star 4900 prices ($24,950–$105,900), Cat C15 engine risks, confirmed NHTSA fire recalls, and the California CARB registration trap.

**Verdict:** inspect

$24,950–$105,900 observed used (6 real listings; ~$45k typical). The classic 4900 runs pre-2010 Cat C15 / MBE4000 / early Detroit power — a California-registration risk (DPF retrofit $15k–$25k on 2007–2009 units) and the source of confirmed engine-fire recalls. Inspect the powertrain and check the VIN against NHTSA before buying.

**Observed used price:** $24,950–$105,900

**Documented failure risks:**
- Caterpillar C15 fuel injectors: Contaminated fuel destroys C15 injectors — a set of eight injectors costs $4,000–$6,000. Check fuel-system service history and injector condition.
- Caterpillar C15 overheating (head/block): Overheating a Cat C15 or C13 can crack cylinder heads or warp the block — repairs that cost $15,000–$25,000. Verify the cooling system and look for coolant leaks or white smoke at startup.
- Eaton Fuller manual transmission: The transmission pops out of 9th or 10th gear under load; rebuild runs $3,500–$4,500. Road-test under load through the upper gears.
- Meritor rear axle bearing: Whining or growling sound that gets worse under load signals rear-axle bearing wear. Listen under load on a road test.

**Recall:** NHTSA 11V207000 (ENGINE): Cat C15 combustion-tube weld may burn through — fire risk (MY2008–2010)

## Sources
- [Western Star 4900 used listings](https://www.soarr.com/for-sale/trucks/0/Western%20Star/4900/all-for-sale) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [NHTSA recalls by vehicle — Western Star 4900](https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/recallsByVehicle?make=western%20star&model=4900&modelYear=2010) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Caterpillar Truck Engines Legacy Maintenance Guide](https://skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/caterpillar-truck-engines-legacy-maintenance-guide) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Eaton Fuller Transmission Problems and Solutions](https://skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/eaton-fuller-transmission-problems-and-solutions) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Meritor Axle Maintenance and Common Failures](https://skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/meritor-axle-maintenance-and-common-failures) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [CARB Regulations for Trucks](https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/carb-regulations-for-trucks-even-if-you-don-t-drive-in-california) (accessed 2026-09-11)

_Last verified 2026-09-11. Source: Big Rig Risk — https://bigrigrisk.com/trucks/western-star-4900/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._