2003 Workhorse CHASSIS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
20,311 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 22 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 77.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.5% |
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 | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 2 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 2; Equipment: 1; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Air: 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 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (14). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2012: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10101555 · 2004-12-21 (December 21, 2004)
THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *JB THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE AND SNAPPED LEAVING THE VEHICLE DISENGAGED IN PARK. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,003 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113576 · 2005-03-07 (March 7, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145106 · 2005-12-13 (December 13, 2005)
DRIVING I70 IN MOUNTAINS GOING EAST BOUND ON WEST SIDE OF FLOYD HILL. THE TRANSMISSION MISS SHIFTED AND DROPPED INTO SECOND AT 65 MPH AND WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED BY 18 WHEELER TOOK IT WORKHORSE AND THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG BUT THUS WAS THE THIRD THIS HAPPENED THIS IS A P32 WORKHORSE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160192 · 2006-06-19 (June 19, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED TWICE WITHIN 60,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE ABS SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED AND A BRAKE TUNE UP WAS PERFORMED. NEITHER REMEDY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRAKE FUEL HEATS UP TO A BOILING PASTE CONSISTENCY AND CREATES AIR IN THE BRAKE LINE WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO STICK. THERE IS A RECALL, 04V195000, FOR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THE REMEDY ALSO DID NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161585 · 2006-06-27 (June 27, 2006)
CONSUMER CONCERNING WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS PROBLEMS. *TS ***NAR*** THE IDLER ARM RELAY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PART WAS PROBABLY NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE FRONT END OF THE MOTOR HOME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203266 · 2007-09-17 (September 17, 2007)
(1) ON MY FIRST TRIP IN MY 2003 WORKHORSE CHASSIS R.V. ABOUT 31 MILES INTO THE TRIP IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC I NOTICED ON A SLIGHT UP GRADE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING LIKE NORMAL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT UPSHIFTING. (2) I PULLED OVER AND THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE . I TOLD THE PASSENGERS TO GET OUT . THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES,THE TIRES AND WHEELS WERE VERY HOT! ! AFTER GETTING UNDER THE CHASSIS I COULD SEE THE ROTOR WAS SMOKING HOT . I FELT THE HEAT OF THE CALIPERS FROM A COUPLE FEET AWA…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,435 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203325 · 2007-09-18 (September 18, 2007)
2003 WORKHORSE TRUCK. CONTROL ARM FAILURE CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10203325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215202 · 2008-01-17 (January 17, 2008)
BRAKES ON MOTORHOME VERY POOR, NEVER SURE IT WOULD STOP. IT WOULD SLOW DOWN, JUST KEPT ON PUSHING THE PEDAL AND THE MH KEPT ON MOVING, FINALLY, IT WOULD STOP. COMPLAINED MANY TIMES TO DEALER. JUST SPENT OVER $1700 TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT TRUCK GARAGE MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS THE POOREST BRAKING SYSTEM HE EVER SAW AND HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE PARTS HE HAD TO REPLACE WOULD HOLD UP. I HAVE COPIES OF ALL SERVICE AND RECALLS DONE ON THE MH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 528 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215202 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V195000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)
CERTAIN CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH ACTIA CORPORATE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 101 "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS" AND 105 "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." IF THE BRAKE FAIL INPUT FALLS BELOW A VOLTAGE OF 1.5V, THE BRAKE FAILURE LAMP AND ALARM WILL BE ACTIVATED. ALSO ACTIVATION OF THE ABS TELL TALE WHEN THE ABS IS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: WORKHORSE WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JANUARY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.
NHTSA campaign record ↗