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Campaign 25V603 Posted September 11, 2025 343 units

2024-2026 Western Star 47X-49X Recall 25V603: Tie Rod

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 20, 2026

Recall 25V603 covers 343 2024-2026 Western Star, Freightliner, FCCC, and Thomas Built Buses vehicles for loose tie rod fasteners. Repair will be free once available.

Western Star recall 25V603 covers 343 2024-2026 49X, Business Class M2, Saf-T-Liner C2, and related heavy vehicles because the tie rod castle nut and cotter pin have an installation defect. The defect can cause loss of steering control and increase crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The tie rod assembly is part of the front steering linkage on these 2024-2026 trucks, buses, and chassis. It connects steering movement to the front wheels so the wheels turn together and stay aligned. The castle nut holds the tie rod ball joint tight, and the cotter pin locks that nut in place so it does not back off.

On affected vehicles, the front axle went through a rework process, and the records do not confirm that the tie rod castle nut was tightened to the proper torque or that the cotter pin was installed correctly. If the cotter pin is missing or seated wrong, the castle nut can loosen. A loose nut lets the tie rod joint separate from the front axle, which can lead to a loss of steering control.

A driver can feel extra free play in the steering wheel before the joint separates. The vehicle can also feel out of alignment, with steering that does not track the way it should.

Who's affected?

Scope spans Western Star, Freightliner, Thomas Built Buses, and Fccc vehicle lines from the 2024-2026 model years, all tied to the same tie rod assembly.

2026 Western Star 49X steering system
2026 Western Star 49X tie rod (steering linkage)
2024 Freightliner Business Class M2 steering system
2024 Freightliner Business Class M2 tie rod (steering linkage)
2026 Freightliner Business Class M2 steering system
Units affected343
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

The year, make, and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

What's the safety risk?

A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash. If the steering feels loose or the vehicle seems improperly aligned, slow down, avoid unnecessary trips, and contact the dealer for inspection. Repair will be free at any franchised Western Star dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2024-2026 Western Star vehicle is included in this recall.
  2. Wait for Western Star's repair instructions before booking the final dealer repair.
  3. Contact Western Star customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions and reference recall number 25V603 when you call.
  4. Avoid driving the vehicle if the steering feels loose, pulls, or does not respond normally.
  5. Bring the owner notice to the franchised Western Star dealer once the tie-rod castle-nut and cotter-pin repair opens; the repair secures the steering linkage and is free.

What happens at the repair

Once the final dealer repair is available, a Western Star technician will inspect the tie rod assembly and replace it if needed. The recall repair will be free, including covered parts and labor. Because the manufacturer used its standard reimbursement plan, owners who already paid for a related tie rod repair should keep repair paperwork and contact DTNA customer service or the dealer service desk to ask how documented expenses are handled under that plan.

ReimbursementReimbursement available

Timeline

September 11, 2025 NHTSA published the recall
October 1, 2025 Dealer notification began
October 1, 2025 Dealer notification ended
November 10, 2025 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 25V603?

Recall 25V603 covers 343 2024-2026 Western Star, Freightliner, FCCC, and Thomas Built Buses vehicles with tie rod castle nut and cotter pin installation defects. The fasteners can leave the tie rod assembly unsecured, causing a loss of steering control and increasing crash risk.

What should I do if my 2024-2026 Western Star 49X, Business Class M2, Saf-T-Liner C2, 47X, Cascadia, E-Cascadia, MT55G, MT45G, S2C 106, S2RV 106, 108SD, or 114SD is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 25V603. If it is, contact a franchised Western Star dealer to schedule the tie rod inspection. Reference recall number 25V603 and DTNA recall D25R2 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Dealers will inspect the tie rod assembly and replace it if needed, with parts and labor covered by the recall.

Is it safe to drive a vehicle in recall 25V603?

The safety issue is loss of steering control, which increases crash risk. This recall does not carry a do-not-drive order, but an included vehicle still needs prompt dealer inspection. If steering feels abnormal, stop driving and ask the dealer about towing.

When were owner letters mailed for recall 25V603?

DTNA mailed owner notification letters on November 10, 2025. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then contact a franchised Western Star dealer for the free inspection.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V603000
Western Star customer service1-800-547-0712
NHTSA recall #25V603
NHTSA recall # (full)25V603000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →