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Vehicle safety record

2002 Workhorse W20 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2002 Workhorse W20 with NHTSA, most often about the brakes (6). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in April 2009 for the service brakes, hydraulic. For comparison, the 2001 has 2 and the 2003 has 11.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical W20 year, for its age

#257 most complained-about 2002 vehicle

Complaints
6
Recalls
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Most common 2002 Workhorse W20 problems

Share of all 6 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2002 Workhorse W20 recalls 2

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

Service brakes

09V11000048,876 vehicles affected

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.

Service brakes

04V08400010,235 vehicles affected

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.

What owners say

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6 complaints about the 2002 Workhorse W20

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.

Brakes

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 winnebago adventurer with a workhorse w20 chassis motor home (rv). The contact stated while driving at speeds of 55 mph, the front passenger side brakes locked and the anti lock braking system failed. The contact moved the vehicle off the roadway and waited for the brakes to cool. The failure occurred approximately eight times and was taken to the dealer where the brakes were bled at each failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was awaiting a diagnostic. The...

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contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 04v084000 (service brakes) and campaign id number: 09v110000 (service brakes, hydraulic) but was unable to confirm if the vehicle was included in either recall. The failure mileage was 15,392 and the current mileage was 54,944.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 10339361
Brakes

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 workhorse chassis w20. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongy when he depressed it while driving at approximately 40 mph. He received a recall notice for recall 09v110000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle had not been taken to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic test because the contact was told that he would be charged for it. When the contact called the manufacturer, he was told that the brake company was out of business and the parts for the repair were no longer available. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 13,500. The current mileage was approximately 14,000.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 10324026
Brakes

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 workhorse w20. The consumer stated the motor home continues to have problems with the brake calipers even though the problem was repaired under recall # 04v084000. The brakes overheated and destroyed the rear speed sensor. The rear brakes were cleaned and adjusted and the speed sensor on the left side was replaced. While driving, the right front brake locked up and the motor home had to e towed. The consumer was informed the rear caliper was frozen. On a separate occasion, the brakes...

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seized and the abs sensor burned out. The left front calipers had to be replaced, the left front wheels speed sensor as well as the hub seal. Updated 02/09/09 *cn updated 02/10/09. *Jb

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 10252092
BrakesFire

Took vehicle into dealer and had campaign number 04v019000 completed on 10-26-04. Now less than 10,000 miles since then, it is back at the service center after brake fire and pedal loss. Vehicle is in need of rotors, calipers and wheel speed sensor. *Tr

Filed Incident Service brakes, airNHTSA 10239616
Brakes

We had a brake recall done on our 2002 itasca suncruiser motorhome (w20 chassis in jan 2005, mileage 9141. While on vacation in july 2005, the brakes overheated and repairs were authorized by workhorse at no charge at mileage 9,687. Experienced overheating again in september 2007 at mileage 28819. Repairs done at our expense - replace rear rotor, wheel seal and brake pads, abs ring, rear abs sensor. After 249 miles, rear brake overheated at mileage 29,068, checked for damage due to overheating but there was none. Had to pay for labor to make this determination. *Tr

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 10233082
Brakes

Tl* - the contact stated had recall brake work done with 31260 miles on vehicle. The dealer repaired only the front braked under the recall and not the rear. The contact stated that the recall was for both front and rear brakes, and he started to have problem with the rear brakes. He then took the rv back to the dealer and they did not honor the recall to fix the rear brakes. The contact called the manufacturer, and they told him to take the vehicle to larry's rv where the recall claim was denied as well, because he was not the first owner. *Ak updated 1/31/2007 - *nm

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 10177222

Workhorse W20: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20063200BrakesC
20053200BrakesC
20047200BrakesC
200311100BrakesC
20026201BrakesC
20012300BrakesC
20001100BrakesA
All W20 years

2002 Workhorse W20 vs rivals

VehicleComplaintsRecallsCrashesGrade
2002 Workhorse W20620C
2002 Workhorse W226721FCompare
2002 Workhorse P3200321601DCompare
2002 Workhorse P30500-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.

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Questions about the 2002 Workhorse W20

Does the 2002 Workhorse W20 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2002 Workhorse W20: service brakes, hydraulic (April 2009); service brakes, hydraulic (February 2004). 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 2002 Workhorse W20?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the brakes (6).

How many complaints has the 2002 Workhorse W20 had?

6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 28, 2006 and the latest on June 21, 2010. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2002 Workhorse W20 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 41 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?
What should I do if my 2002 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

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