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2003 Workhorse W22

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

77 reports with mileage · 36 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports8 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

106 reports
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28,554 miles · Sep 16, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicFire

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD FIRE, WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH WITH ONBOARD EXTINGUISHER. MOTOR HOME WAS TOWED AND TAKED TO A WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER. GEORGIA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN MARIETTA, GA. THEY REPLACED ONE CALIPER, ONE CRACKED ROTOR, RIGHT FRONT TURNED ROTOR ON LEFT FRONT. REPLACED BRAKE PADS FR…

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RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD FIRE, WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH WITH ONBOARD EXTINGUISHER. MOTOR HOME WAS TOWED AND TAKED TO A WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER. GEORGIA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN MARIETTA, GA. THEY REPLACED ONE CALIPER, ONE CRACKED ROTOR, RIGHT FRONT TURNED ROTOR ON LEFT FRONT. REPLACED BRAKE PADS FRONT AND REAR. TOTAL COST $937.51 CONTINUED ON OR TRIP BUT NOTICED ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES BUT NO LOCKUP. UPON RETURN TO LEESBURG, FL. TOOK MH. TO NICHOLS DIESEL IN EUSTIS, FL . ANOTHER WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER. THEY THE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, TURNED THE NEW ROTOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT, RREPLACED THEROTOR ON LEFT FRONT, CRACKED. REPLACED BRAKE PADS ON FRONT.COST $1278.99. SENT LETTERS TO WORKHORSE BUT NO RESPONSE. CALLED WORKHORSE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTORHOME WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL EVER THOUGH IT HAD ONLY 28,554 MILES OF USE. THEY THIS WAS NORMAL. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I DON'T THINK SO. WE WERE LUCKY THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203128

27,610 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ALL BRAKE CALIPERS WERE LUBED/INSPECTED ACCORDING TO MFR'S SPEC AT 26,174 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER, AT 26780 MILES, THE LF CALIPER WAS FOUND TO BE DRAGGING, CAUSING OVERHEATED BRAKE, & REQUIRED THE MOTORHOME TO BE TOWED. THE LF CALIPER PINS/BOOTS WERE REPLACED & ALL CALIPER PINS RE-LUBED/INSPECTED. APPROX ONE MONTH LATER AT 27610 …

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ALL BRAKE CALIPERS WERE LUBED/INSPECTED ACCORDING TO MFR'S SPEC AT 26,174 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER, AT 26780 MILES, THE LF CALIPER WAS FOUND TO BE DRAGGING, CAUSING OVERHEATED BRAKE, & REQUIRED THE MOTORHOME TO BE TOWED. THE LF CALIPER PINS/BOOTS WERE REPLACED & ALL CALIPER PINS RE-LUBED/INSPECTED. APPROX ONE MONTH LATER AT 27610 MILES, THE RF CALIPER WAS DRAGGING, CAUSING OVERHEATING & STEERING PULLING RIGHT. AT THAT POINT I DIRECTED THAT THE LEFT & RIGHT FRONT CALIPERS BE REPLACED, AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, BUT A NECESSARY SAFETY ITEM. MOTORHOME VEHICLE IS 2003 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER 38G ON A 2003 WORKHORSE W-22 CHASSIS. ALL WEIGHTS ARE WITHIN SPECS (NOT OVERLOADED). *JB *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202366

12,792 miles · Aug 21, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING A STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ABS OR BRAKE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. CARRIED TO SHOP AND FOUND REAR BRAKES HAD FAILED TO RELEASE, HEATING CALIPERS, PADS AND SENSORS. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WORKHORSE REFUSED TO REFUND PAYMENT EVEN THOUGH HISTORY OF THESE VEHICLES PROVE THERE IS A MANUFACT…

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BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING A STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ABS OR BRAKE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. CARRIED TO SHOP AND FOUND REAR BRAKES HAD FAILED TO RELEASE, HEATING CALIPERS, PADS AND SENSORS. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WORKHORSE REFUSED TO REFUND PAYMENT EVEN THOUGH HISTORY OF THESE VEHICLES PROVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT RELATING TO THE CALIPERS. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM. UPON NOTIFICATION TO WORKHORSE THEY DID NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE NUMBER OF THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE STILL IN SERVICE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. JH *TR THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLES MADE IN 2001-2003 BUT THE CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/11/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200403

10,000 miles · Aug 10, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

RECALL CORNER ? JANUARY 2005 WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS HAS ANNOUNCED NHTSA RECALL 04V084000, WHICH AFFECTS CERTAIN WORKHORSE W SERIES GASOLINE-POWERED CHASSIS MADE BETWEEN AUGUST 10, 2000, AND JULY 29, 2002. THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF CHASSIS AFFECTED IS 10,235. THESE CHASSIS WERE USED BY SEVERAL MOTORHOME MANUFACTURING COMPANIES. …

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RECALL CORNER ? JANUARY 2005 WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS HAS ANNOUNCED NHTSA RECALL 04V084000, WHICH AFFECTS CERTAIN WORKHORSE W SERIES GASOLINE-POWERED CHASSIS MADE BETWEEN AUGUST 10, 2000, AND JULY 29, 2002. THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF CHASSIS AFFECTED IS 10,235. THESE CHASSIS WERE USED BY SEVERAL MOTORHOME MANUFACTURING COMPANIES. TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOUR COACH IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, CHECK THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (VIN). ONLY THE LAST EIGHT DIGITS OF THE FULL 17-DIGIT VIN ARE GIVEN. ALL CHASSIS INVOLVED HAVE VINS THAT BEGIN WITH 5B4. CHASSIS MODEL YEAR 2001 ? 13325068 TO 13337849 CHASSIS MODEL YEAR 2002 ? 23336034 TO 23356051 CHASSIS MODEL YEAR 2003 ? 33354476 TO 33356806 ON SOME W20 AND W22 MOTORHOME CHASSIS BUILT BY WORKHORSE AND EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH ZERO OFFSET PIN SLIDE (ZOPS) BRAKE CALIPERS, THE CALIPER CAN HANG IN THE PARTIAL APPLY POSITION AND CAUSE THE BRAKE PADS TO DRAG ON THE ROTOR SURFACE. OVERHEATING MAY OCCUR, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND AFFECTING BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THE PROBLEM ALSO COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE SYSTEM'S ANTI-LOCK FEATURES TO BE LOST IF THE HEAT DAMAGES THE ANTI-LOCK WHEEL SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199094

14,009 miles · Sep 6, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKES THEY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP YET. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT COULD BE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 14, 2005. THE CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE TIRES. HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF FLUID IT WAS. THIS…

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DT: WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKES THEY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP YET. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT COULD BE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 14, 2005. THE CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE TIRES. HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF FLUID IT WAS. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ON JULY 26, 2005 AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JULY 27, 2005. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. *AK THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY AND THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE CALIPER SLIDE PIN HAD SEIZED CAUSING THE ROTORS TO HEAT UP. TEN MINUTES AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10130438

17,555 miles · Aug 4, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN A SHORT OCCURRED IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION AT ALL UNTIL I PUMPED THEM A SECOND TIME. THE HAPPEN THREE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SAFE PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10131587

Official recalls

1

09V110000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Apr 3, 2009

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 SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA07016 · Overheating Disc Brake Caliper

Opened Nov 16, 2007 · Closed Aug 19, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (7)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.