WORKHORSE W20 · model year

2002 WORKHORSE W20

6 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002WORKHORSEW20 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 W20 is service brakes, hydraulic with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper (1) and service brakes, air:disc:caliper (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2002 W20. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

6
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

6 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER1

Recalls (2)

04V08400018/02/2004

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH ZOPS, THE PADS CAN DRAG ON THE ROTOR SURFACE DUE TO THE PIN SLIDE.

09V11000003/04/2009

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 W

Recent Complaints

20100621SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 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.

Mileage: 15,392

20100406SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

Mileage: 13,500

20081217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 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

Mileage: 6,000

20080825FireSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

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

Mileage: 23,239

20080702SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

Mileage: 28,819

20061228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

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

Mileage: 31,260

Compare 2002WORKHORSEW20 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 WORKHORSE W20 have?
The 2002 WORKHORSE W20 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 WORKHORSE W20?
Yes, the 2002 WORKHORSE W20 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 WORKHORSE W20?
The most-complained component for the 2002 WORKHORSE W20 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER.
Is the 2002 WORKHORSE W20 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.