Recall 11V146 covers 2,073 2006-2011 Western Star trucks for intake grid heater shorts. Repair is free at a franchised Western Star dealer.
Western Star is recalling 2,073 2006-2011 heavy trucks, including 4900 models, because the intake air grid heater in certain MBE4000 EPA07 engines can short circuit and fail from excessive internal temperatures. A shorted grid heater can start a vehicle fire and injure occupants; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The intake air grid heater on these 2006-2011 Western Star 4900, 9500, Fld, Columbia, Century, Cascadia, and M2 heavy trucks sits in the engine intake system on trucks equipped with specific MBE4000 EPA07 engines. Its job is to warm incoming air before it reaches the engine, which helps the engine start and run correctly in cold conditions.
In affected trucks, the grid heater can build excessive internal heat. That heat can damage the heater and create a short circuit, which means electrical current travels through an unintended path instead of staying inside the designed circuit. Once that happens, the heater can fail and the intake-air heating function is no longer dependable.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver should not rely on a dashboard light, sound, or change in engine feel to confirm that the grid heater is starting to short.
Who's affected?
Spans 7 heavy-truck models across the 2006-2011 model years, all listed under engine and engine cooling.
| 2006 Western Star 4900 | Engine and engine cooling |
|---|---|
| 2008 Western Star 4900 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Western Star 4900 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Western Star 4900 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Sterling 9500 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Sterling 9500 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Sterling 9500 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Freightliner Fld | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Freightliner Fld | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Freightliner Columbia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Freightliner Columbia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Freightliner Columbia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Freightliner Century | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Freightliner Century | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Freightliner Century | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Freightliner Cascadia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Western Star 4900 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Western Star 4900 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Sterling 9500 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Sterling 9500 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Freightliner Fld | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Sterling 9500 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Freightliner Fld | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Freightliner Fld | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Freightliner M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Freightliner Century | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Freightliner Century | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Freightliner Century | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Freightliner Columbia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Freightliner Columbia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Freightliner Columbia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Freightliner Fld | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Freightliner Cascadia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Freightliner Cascadia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Freightliner Cascadia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Freightliner Cascadia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Freightliner M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Freightliner M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Freightliner M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 Freightliner Cascadia | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 Freightliner M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 Freightliner M2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| Units affected | 2,073 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
A short circuit in the grid heater can start a vehicle fire and injure occupants. If your VIN is included, schedule the recall work with a franchised dealer and ask the service desk what to do if the vehicle shows electrical trouble before repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Western Star dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2011 Western Star 4900, 9500, Fld, Columbia, Century, Cascadia, or M2 is included in this recall.
- Wait for Western Star's remedy notice before scheduling if the dealer says the repair has not opened.
- Contact a franchised Western Star dealer and ask whether the intake-air-grid-heater repair that addresses overheating and short circuits is released.
- Reference recall number 11V146 when you call, and bring the recall notice if you have it.
- Keep the truck away from heat, smoke, or burning smells, and stop driving if you suspect an electrical short or fire risk.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Western Star technician handles the repair for the intake air grid heater short circuit condition on trucks with the specified MBE4000 EPA07 engine. The recall filing says DTNA planned a second owner notification after the remedy was released and expected the remedy by December 1, 2011. This record does not identify the final repair steps, so the exact inspection or replacement work is not confirmed here. Parts and labor are covered once the dealer remedy is available for the VIN.
Timeline
| March 3, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 2, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V146?
Recall 11V146 covers 2,073 2006-2011 Western Star heavy trucks equipped with specific MBE4000 EPA07 engines. The intake air grid heater can short circuit and fail from excessive internal temperatures. That short circuit can result in a vehicle fire and injury to occupants.
What should I do if my 2006-2011 Western Star 4900, 9500, Fld, Columbia, Century, Cascadia, or M2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 11V146. If it is, contact a franchised Western Star dealer and reference recall number 11V146 when you call. Ask the service desk about the grid heater repair and current parts availability.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and DTNA said repairs for recall 11V146 would be performed by dealers free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Western Star dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. The intake air grid heater can short circuit after excessive internal temperatures, and a short circuited grid heater can result in a vehicle fire and injury to occupants. Confirm your VIN before scheduling service because the VIN decides whether this recall applies.
When did the remedy become available?
DTNA said owners would receive recall notice during March 2011, with another notice once the remedy was released. The company expected the remedy to be available by December 1, 2011. If your VIN is included, ask the dealer to confirm the current repair procedure for recall 11V146.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V146000 |
|---|---|
| Western Star customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V146 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V146000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →