- The problem
- Navistar is recalling certain model year my 2001-2008 workhorse w20, w21 and w22 chassis and certain model year 2009 through 2011 monaco rv admiral, arista, monarch, and riptide recreational vehicles equipped with axles that include bosch zops or zoht pin slide hydraulic disc brakes. When combined with occasional or seasonal vehicle operation may experience calipers sticking in the applied position. This can result in abnormal heat generation at the wheel end causing brake drag. The driver would normally have warning of the brake drag if undetected by the driver.
- The risk
- The temperature increase at the wheel end can eventually lead to soft pedal conditions due to brake fluid boil, and possible extended stopping distance increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Workhorse dealers will replace all four bosch brake caliper assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2010. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-246-7731.
Vehicle safety record
2001 Workhorse W20 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2001 Workhorse W20 with NHTSA, most often about the brakes (1) and the electrical system (1). It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in April 2009 for the service brakes, hydraulic. For comparison, the 2000 has 1 and the 2002 has 6.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical W20 year, for its age
#347 most complained-about 2001 vehicle
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2001 Workhorse W20 problems
Share of all 2 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2001 Workhorse W20 recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain motorhome chassis equipped with bosch zops, the pads can drag on the rotor surface due to the pin slide.
- The risk
- A hang up or lock up may cause the calipers to over heat and not allow the driver to stop safely. This could cause overheating of the brake calipers which could result in a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect, repair and replace according to the procedure developed by bosch (see campaign 03e064000). The recall began on august 1, 2004. Owners should contact workhorse at 1-877-294-6773.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: motor home and commercial chassis. The rear axle u-bolts may not be tightened correctly due to random failure of production tooling in the specified time span.
- The risk
- Low u-bolt torque can result in u-bolts coming loose and not properly retaining the rear axle to the vehicle, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
- The fix
- Dealers will tighten the rear axle u-bolts. Owner notification is expected to begin october 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact workhorse at 1-877-946-7731.
What owners say
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2 complaints about the 2001 Workhorse W20
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 winnebago. The contact smelled something burning, and stated that the brakes were dragging. The manufacturer replaced the brake pads, rotors, and abs. The contact later received a recall for the brakes. The manufacturer installed a brake repair kit on 11/4/04, but the vehicle began to experience the same brake failure and burning smell. The contact has the repair invoice from the recall. The failure mileage was 41000. *Ak update 4/19/2007 *tr
I own a 2001 safari trek, built on a 17000 gvw workhorse chassis. I was traveling at the posted speed limit (70 mph) in the center lane of highway 99 in fresno ca. My cruise control disengaged (the first sign) and I reset it. Several minutes later, the engine lost power, the gauges failed, and the emergency brake came on. Luckily I was able to bring the motorhome to a complete stop, all the way off the road. As it turns out, the ignition switch failed internally, causing excessive resistance and heat in the pink...
Read the full complaint
power wire which feeds the chassis part of the vehicle. The main problem, besides suddenly loosing power, is that the emergency brake comes on automatically when then vehicle is put into park. When the ignition switch failed, the power to the emergency brake failed, and it came on, full force, at seventy miles and hour! If I had been tired, or the road conditions been rainy, curvy, icy etc, things may have turned out very, very bad. If I had been traveling slower, or had a lighter vehicle, I and my family might have wound up stopped in the middle of the freeway. I wound up literally hot wiring the vehicle to get home, and the problem recurred two more times because the connection that I had to rig up, kept coming loose. From my experience, it only takes a very short ,intermittent loss of power to trigger the emergency brake. I am an ase certified automotive technician, and would appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue. Personally, I am going to re-wire it somehow to prevent this from happening again. *Jb
Workhorse W20: every year compared
All W20 years2001 Workhorse W20 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Workhorse W20 | 2 | 3 | C | |
| 2001 Workhorse W22 | 10 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2001 Workhorse P320032 | 5 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2001 Workhorse P320042 | 2 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2001 Workhorse W21 | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2001 Workhorse P3500 | 1 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2001 Workhorse W20
Does the 2001 Workhorse W20 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2001 Workhorse W20: service brakes, hydraulic (April 2009); service brakes, hydraulic (February 2004); u-bolt, leaf spring to axle (October 2001). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Workhorse W20?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the brakes (1), electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 2001 Workhorse W20 had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 14, 2005 and the latest on March 19, 2007. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2001 Workhorse W20 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Workhorse W20 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Workhorse W20 years have the most complaints?
2003 (11), 2004 (7), 2002 (6). See every Workhorse W20 year compared.
What should I do if my 2001 Workhorse W20 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data