2005 Workhorse W20 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other W20 years
- Not enough data 4th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Workhorse W20. That ranks 4th out of 9 W20 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 21,431 miles. Complaints mention 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 3owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Workhorse W20 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 67% | 21,431 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 33% | 4,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Workhorse W20 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic
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.
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.
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.
Steering
Problem: Certain chassis may have been equipped with incorrect steering intermediate shafts. The spline can strip while the steering wheel is being turned.
Risk: This steering condition could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering intermediate shafts. The recall began on may 22, 2006. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-294-6773.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Overheating disc brake caliper (EA07016) — opened Nov 16, 2007, closed Aug 19, 2009, led to recall 09V110000.
- Overheated brake calipers (PE07032) — opened Jun 25, 2007, closed Nov 19, 2007.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 workhorse chassis w22. The contact received a recall notice for recall 09v110000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the brake calipers (recalled part) could also caused failures within the brake…
Brakes over-heated, locked up and failed. After a long cool-down period, the brake calipers released and i was able to a repair facility for inspection. *tr
For the 3rd time in one year, the automatic parking brake has locked on while driving down the road anywhere from 30-65 mph. This results in rapid deceleration and then leaves you stranded on the highway. In the last case, last month, the deceleration was so quick that my son hit his face on the…
Other Workhorse W20 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 W20 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 W20 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 W20 | 3 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 | 2 |
| 2004 W20 | 7 | 2 |
| 2003 W20 | 11 | 1 |
| 2002 W20 | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 W20 | 2 | 3 |
| 2000 W20 | 1 | 1 |
See all Workhorse W20 problems by year, every Workhorse model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Workhorse models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Workhorse W20?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, parking brake problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Workhorse W20?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Workhorse W20 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other W20 model years, the 2005 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.