Recall 16V711 affects 1,944 2014-2017 Western Star 5700 and 4900 trucks for oversized seat belt mounting holes. Repair is free at a Western Star dealer.
Western Star is recalling 1,944 2014-2017 4900 and 5700 trucks with Stratosphere sleeper cabs because the seat belt mounting plate can have an oversized drill hole. In a crash, the plate can fail and keep the seat belt from adequately restraining the occupant, increasing injury risk; Western Star dealers will complete the free repair.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The seat belt anchor plate in the Stratosphere sleeper cab is the metal mounting point that ties the seat belt to the cab structure. On 2014-2017 Western Star 4900 and 5700 trucks covered by NHTSA campaign 16V711, that plate is part of what keeps the belt fixed in place during a hard stop or crash.
The defect is in the hole drilled through the anchor plate. Western Star found that an incorrect 16 mm hole was used instead of the specified 11.9 mm hole. With the hole enlarged, the seat belt mounting point does not match the intended design, and the anchor plate failed a seat belt pull test during the investigation.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look normal in daily use because the problem is in the hidden mounting geometry, not in the visible webbing, latch, or buckle.
Who's affected?
Covers two Western Star truck models across four model years, with seat belt as the shared component.
| 2014 Western Star 5700 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2014 Western Star 4900 | seat belt |
| 2015 Western Star 5700 | seat belt |
| 2015 Western Star 4900 | seat belt |
| 2016 Western Star 4900 | seat belt |
| 2017 Western Star 4900 | seat belt |
| 2016 Western Star 5700 | seat belt |
| 2017 Western Star 5700 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 1,944 |
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?
If the seat belt mounting plate hole is too large, the plate can fail when stressed in a crash. That failure can keep the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant and increases injury risk. Schedule the repair soon, especially if the truck carries passengers. Repair is free at any franchised Western Star dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2017 Western Star 5700 or 4900 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Western Star dealer to schedule the free seat belt mounting plate reinforcement that corrects the oversized drill hole in the plate.
- Bring the recall notice if Western Star mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V711 when you call.
- Avoid using the affected sleeper-cab seating position until the seat belt mounting plate reinforcement is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Western Star technician reinforces the seat belt mounting plate in the Stratosphere sleeper cab. The work addresses the oversized drill hole in the mounting plate on affected 2014-2017 Western Star 4900 and 5700 trucks. The final remedy is available now, and the recall repair is free. Parts and labor are covered under the campaign, so schedule the truck with a Western Star dealer and reference recall 16V711 or DTNA recall FL-725 when you call.
Timeline
| October 5, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| December 1, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 1, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 1, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 24, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V711?
Recall 16V711 covers 1,944 2014-2017 Western Star 5700 and 4900 trucks with Stratosphere sleeper cabs. The seat belt mounting plate has a drill hole that is too large, and Western Star dealers will reinforce the plate for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2017 Western Star 5700 or 4900 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 16V711. If it is, contact a franchised Western Star dealer and ask to schedule recall FL-725 for seat belt mounting plate reinforcement. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost to owners, and the recall remedy says Western Star dealers will reinforce the seat belt mounting plate free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V711?
The risk is reduced seat belt restraint in a crash. If the mounting plate hole is too large, the plate can fail under crash stress and keep the belt from adequately restraining the seat occupant, increasing injury risk.
When were owners notified about recall 16V711?
Western Star sent an interim owner notice on December 7, 2016, and sent the final remedy notice on February 24, 2017. The final repair is available now through franchised Western Star dealers.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V711000 |
|---|---|
| Western Star customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V711 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V711000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →