2003 Workhorse W22: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
22,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 113 complaints (85.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 103 | 91.2% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.7% |
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 | 97 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 97; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Service Brakes, Electric: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 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 (45). 36 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 32 |
| 2010 | 42 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2007: 8; 2008: 15; 2009: 32; 2010: 42; 2011: 11; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 103 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10130438 · 2005-09-06 (September 6, 2005)
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 B…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131587 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 17,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199094 · 2007-08-10 (August 10, 2007)
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 BEG…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200403 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
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 ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,792 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202366 · 2007-09-10 (September 10, 2007)
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. MOTORHOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,610 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203128 · 2007-09-16 (September 16, 2007)
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. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,554 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203394 · 2007-09-18 (September 18, 2007)
FRONT BRAKE FAILURE ON W22 RV CHASSIS, HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT ALL 4 BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 32,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,836 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203588 · 2007-09-20 (September 20, 2007)
ABS, HYDRAULIC, CALIPER, ROTOR AND ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,376 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203588 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.
09V110000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 2009-04-03 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗