TSB: WESTERN STAR 49FX, 5800SS, 5900, 5900 HEAVY DUTY, 5900SS, CATERPILLAR, CONSTELLATION, WESTERN STAR (1997–1998)
Bulletin 98WS001 — January 9, 1998
Bulletin Details
| Bulletin ID | 98WS001 |
| Manufacturer | WESTERN STAR |
| Models | 49FX, 5800SS, 5900, 5900 HEAVY DUTY, 5900SS, CATERPILLAR, CONSTELLATION, WESTERN STAR |
| Model Years | 1997–1998 |
| Date Issued | January 9, 1998 |
| Date Added to NHTSA | June 27, 2000 |
| Component | SUSPENSION |
| Vehicles Affected | 19 combinations |
What is a TSB?
A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.
If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.
Summary
A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE HOOD/ COWL SEAL FOR SOME VEHICLES. *YC
Affected Vehicles
| Make | Model | Year | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| WESTERN STAR | CATERPILLAR | 1998 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | 1998 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| WESTERN STAR | CONSTELLATION | 1997 | 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY |
| WESTERN STAR | 49FX | — | 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD |
| WESTERN STAR | 5800SS | — | 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD |
| WESTERN STAR | 5900 | — | 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD |
| WESTERN STAR | 5900 HEAVY DUTY | — | 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD |
| WESTERN STAR | 5900SS | — | 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD |
| WESTERN STAR | CONSTELLATION | — | 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE |
| WESTERN STAR | CONSTELLATION | — | 162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 127100 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 020000 SUSPENSION |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 135000 VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 020000 SUSPENSION |
| WESTERN STAR | WESTERN STAR | — | 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE |
Related WESTERN STAR Recalls
What Should You Do?
If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized WESTERN STAR dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (98WS001) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.
Frequently Asked Questions
A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.
If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.
Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.
This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.