2001 Workhorse W20 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Workhorse W20, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes150.0%
- Electrical150.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .