2004 Workhorse W20 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
18,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 85.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders: 1; Visibility: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10201868 · 2007-09-04 (September 4, 2007)
DRIVING RV NORMALLY ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN REQUIRED TO STOP. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPED VIGOROUSLY AND GOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEDAL. WHEN UNIT COOLED, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SLOWLY FOR REPAIR. LEFT REAR ROTOR WAS SCORED AND THE CALIPER WAS STICKING, CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO BOIL. *JB UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,506 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202938 · 2007-09-13 (September 13, 2007)
THIS IS A BRAKE FAILURE ON ,MY 2004 ALLEGRO MOTORHOME BUILT ON A W-20 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BY WORKJORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS. ON THE DATE IN QUESTION, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP AND OVERHEATED. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE OVERHEATED. THESE ACTIONS CAUSED REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER, ROTER, SEALS AND SLIDE PINS. THE CALIPER AND SLIDE PINS WERE REPLACED ON THE LEFT REAR BRAKE. THE CALIPERS AND SLIDE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE WORK WAS PERFORMED AT AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275057 · 2009-06-26 (June 26, 2009)
WE DO NOT FEEL THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ON OUR MOTORHOME HAS EVER BEEN LARGE ENOUGH OR CLEAR ENOUGH FOR EASY READING. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE VISIBILITY AND JUST RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION INDICATORS FOR 3 AND 1 GEAR HAVE FADED COMPLETELY. AT PRESENT WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PANEL REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10275057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243450 · 2008-09-25 (September 25, 2008)
ON 9/6/07, THE L.F. BRAKE ON MY MOTORHOME SEIZED UP AND OVERHEATED THE BRAKE ROTOR FOR ALMOST 10 MILES UNTIL I NOTICED SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL & SMELLED "BURNT BRAKE LINING" WHEN I STOPPED. I WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC NEAR ALLIANCE, OHIO; -NOT EXCESSIVE STOP AND GO, BUT THERE WAS MAYBE 4 RED LIGHTS OVER THE COURSE OF 3 MILES DISTANCE (AT 30 MPH) TO STOP. MY STOPPING WAS "NORMAL", NOT SUDDEN OR ERRATIC. THE LEFT FRONT HUB & WHEEL GOT SO HOT FROM THE CALIPER/BRAKE ASSY. SEIZING THAT IT BOILED AWAY ALL OF THE 90W LUBE ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243450 at NHTSA ↗