2008 WORKHORSE R20 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

NAVISTAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 WORKHORSE R20 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 ENGINES. THE #5 AND #6 FUEL LINES MAY CRACK AT THE FASTENING POINT TO THE COMMON FUEL RAIL AND CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Remedy: CATERPILLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR NAVISTAR AT 1-260-461-1890.

39 vehicles affected

DRIVING TO WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER (JIM PRICE CHEVY TRUCK CENTER, CHARLOTTESVILLE VA) FOR A DIFFERENT MATTER THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING FOR BRAKES, ABS, ATC AND PARKING BRAKE. SERVICE CENTER HOOKED UP COMPUTER AND DETERMINED THAT THE MERITOR/WABCO HYDRAULIC COMPACT UNIT (HCU) WHICH IS THE MAJOR PART OF THE HYDRAULIC POWER BRAKE (HPB) SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. I LEARNED THAT THESE UNITS ARE ON MANY INTERNATIONAL BRAND SCHOOL BUSES AS WELL AS MY WORKHORSE UFO CHASSIS RV AND OTHER VEHICLES AND THAT THE HCU IS FAILING ON A REGULAR BASIS ON THESE AND OTHER VEHICLES AND THAT MERITOR/WABCO HAS REDESIGNED THE INTERNALS AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SAME. WORKHORSE ARRANGED TO HAVE A REDESIGNED UNIT FROM MERITOR/WABCO OVERNIGHTED AND INSTALLED THE NEXT DAY. HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS A CRITICAL BRAKE PART WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL BY MERITOR/WABCO? OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE AT RISK! PLEASE INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY. THE NEWSPAPERS WOULD LOVE TO GET THIS FIRST. PLEASE GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS QUICKLY. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 10/26/10*JB *TR