2005 Workhorse W20 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2005 Workhorse W20 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 52,757 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 09V110000 2009-04-03 48,876 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 06V148000 2006-05-02 3,881 affected
Defect

CERTAIN CHASSIS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE SPLINE CAN STRIP WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED.

Consequence

THIS STEERING CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

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.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC
1
1injuries
Total complaints3

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2010-10-05

“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”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2008-11-30

“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…”

PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC · reported 2006-05-29

Defect investigations

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation EA07016 Opened 2007-11-16 · closed 2009-08-19

OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER

THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING…

Investigation PE07032 Opened 2007-06-25 · closed 2007-11-19

OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS

ON JUNE 25, 2007, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPERS AND POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2005 WORKHORSE CHASSIS RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.CURRENTLY ODI IS AWARE OF 651 SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Workhorse W20 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.