Model year

2003 Workhorse W20

Other, 4x2, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Feb 8, 2004 to Mar 24, 2009.

Recall campaigns covering this model year149k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints115.5 times the median 2003 other
Severity index0.02003 others average 9.5
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2003 Workhorse W20 peaked in 2008, with 5 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

02462004200620085201020122014201620182020202220242026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

100% of complaints about the 2003 Workhorse W20 name brakes

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Brakes
11
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

One recall campaign covers the 2003 Workhorse W20

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2003 Workhorse W20
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
09V-110Apr 3, 2009When combined with occasional or seasonal vehicle operation may experience calipers sticking in the applied positionBrakes48,876Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2003 Workhorse W20

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

11 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Mar 24, 2009Failure Mar 18, 200948,850 milesBIG Flats, NYService brakes, Hydraulic

    2ND OCCURRENCE OF BRAKE STICKING / DRAG DURING THIS TRIP. R REAR BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE AFTER BRAKING CAUSING DRAG & OVERHEATING. THIS (AND THE PREVIOUS REPORTED INCIDENT) OCCURRED AFTER GOING THROUGH A SECTION OF IN-TOWN STOP & GO TRAFFIC & STOP LIGHTS. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS RECOGNIZED QUICKLY AND WAS NOT AS SEVERE AS THE PREVIOUS ONE. I WAS ABLE TO COOL THE BRAKES DOWN AND THEY RELEASED. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10262913
  2. Filed Mar 16, 2009Failure Mar 14, 200948,560 milesBIG Flats, NYService brakes, Hydraulic

    BRAKE FAILURE - LOCKUP OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPER / ROTOR CAUSING OVERHEATING AND BRAKE FAILURE. NO SERIOUS INJURY RESULTED. CAUSED TRIP DELAY AND SIGNIFICANT COST TO REPAIR REPLACE BRAKE COMPONENTS AFFECTED. DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED SIGNIFICANT OVERHEATING AND CRACKING OF THE FRONT ROTORS AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF SAME AND PADS & SEALS AT A COST OF APPROX $900. THIS UNIT WAS PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 37600 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER (WH SERVICE CENTER) INSPECTED AND REPLACE BRAKE PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS. THIS UNIT IS STORED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT A TIME BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN INSIDE STORAGE AND THE UNIT IS NOT DRIVEN IN WINTER WEATHER. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10262068
  3. Filed Feb 18, 2009Failure Oct 5, 2007Nesconset, NYService brakes, Foundation components

    LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE AN UPDATE ON AN INQUIRY HE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED RE W20 AND W22 CHASSIS BRAKES. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE BOILING BRAKE FLUID ALSO LEAD TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10259068
  4. Filed Aug 23, 2008Failure Aug 21, 20088,681 milesSyracuse, NYService brakes, Hydraulic

    PARTIAL LOCKUP OF REAR CALIPERS ON A 2003 WORKHORSE W-20 CHASSIS ON A 2004 FLEETWOOD FLAIR 33R MOTORHOME AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES ON RELATIVELY FLAT HIGHWAY ENTERING TRAFFIC WITH STOPLIGHTS. AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES IN THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, A SLIGHT 'BRAKE SMELL' WAS NOTICED. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM HOME. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE WHEELS AND BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM HOME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND HAD BRAKES. I LIMPED HOME IN THIS CONDITION. PARKED AT HOME I NOTICED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS HOT, THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES WAS HOT, A SENSOR HAD MELTED OFF THE RIGHT REAR DUAL, AND A LENGTH (APPROX. 18 INCHES) OF FINE, COILED, COPPER WIRE WAS HANGING FROM THE CALIPER. TO ME IT LOOKED LIKE IT CAME OUT OF THE MELTED SENSOR. THE LEFT WHEEL WAS HOT, AND NOTHING WAS MELTED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO GET IT LOOKED AT ON 8/26/08. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10239439
  5. Filed Jul 9, 2008Failure Aug 17, 200715,962 milesOceanside, CAService brakes, Hydraulic

    WHILE MY 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTOR HOME ON A WORKHORSE CHASSIS WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (ABS) I WAS INFORMED THAT MY BRAKE FLUID HAD OVER HEATED AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM REQUIRED REPLACEMENT (CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE FLUID OVERHEATED, TURNED TO A JELLY AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PISTONS TO RETRACT AFTER THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED. WORHORSE WAS CONTACTED BY DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. I RETAINED 2 OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. RELATED TO NHTSA EA07016. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10233626
  6. Filed Apr 24, 2008Failure Jul 16, 200627,684 milesSturtevant, WIService brakes, Disc

    WE HAVE A 2003 MOTORHOME WITH A W20 WORKHORSE FRAME. I HAVE LOST THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES DUE TO THE FLUID BOILING TWICE DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON LEVEL ROADS (NO HILLS OR MOUNTAINS) BOTH TIMES THE HEAT DESTROYED THE ABS WHEEL SENSORS. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10225639
  7. Filed Mar 11, 2008Failure Mar 1, 200727,200 milesPearl River, LAService brakes, Caliper

    REAR BRAKES OVERHEATING. NO COMPLETE FAILURE. ONLY CAUSED LOSS OF RV VACATION AND MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD TO ALLOW COOL DOWN. DELIVERED TO MECHANIC FOR FLUID CHANGE AND CHECKING AND LUBRICATING OF CALIPERS. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 10 MONTHS LATER. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10220759
  8. Filed Jan 3, 2008Failure Sep 26, 200716,000 milesClearwater, FLService brakes, Hydraulic

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE W20. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS FAST AS IT NORMALLY WOULD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELLING COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CALIPERS CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THERE IS AN OPEN DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA07016). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 02-06-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AT THE FIRST OBSERVATION THE LEFT REAR CALIPER WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH AND ALL OTHER CALIPERS SEEMED TO HAVE NORMAL TEMPERATURE. UPDATED 02/06/08 *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10213573
  9. Filed Oct 9, 2007Failure Oct 5, 200715,100 milesNesconset, NYService brakes, Caliper, Rotor

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DAMON WORKHORSE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS FLAGGED DOWN BY ANOTHER MOTORIST AND ADVISED TO PULL OVER. ONCE HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. WHEN THE WHEELS WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SHOES WERE FINE, HOWEVER, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE CALIPER TO BOIL THE BRAKE FLUID. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CALIPERS AND BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,100. UPDATED 01/24/08 . *LJ UPDATED

    NHTSA complaint 10205270
  10. Filed Sep 4, 2007Failure Jul 29, 200721,880 milesAlpharetta, GAService brakes, Hydraulic

    BRAKE FAILURE. REAR BRAKES OVERHEATED AND BOILED THE BRAKE FLUID. COACH WAS TOWED TO CAMPING TIME RV IN OAKWOOD, GA. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR OVER A MONTH AWAITING PARTS. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. REAR HUBS TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND BOILED THE BRAKE FLUID.*JB UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10201867
  11. Filed Feb 8, 2004Failure Jan 6, 20047,300 milesWyoming, MIService brakes, Hydraulic

    BRAKES FAILED AT BELOW FREEZING TEMP.EXTREME PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO GET MINIMAL BRAKE PRESSURE AFTER WHICH I HAD TO PULL BRAKE PEDAL UP BY HAND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FROZE TO THE TOP. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10056768
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

2 NHTSA investigations on file

  • EA07016 Engineering analysis, Brakes
    OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER
    Opened Nov 16, 2007, closed Aug 19, 2009 ยท led to a recall
  • PE07032 Preliminary evaluation, Brakes
    OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS
    Opened Jun 25, 2007, closed Nov 19, 2007
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

No manufacturer communications on file

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.