2003 Workhorse W22 problems and owner complaints
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.
Complaint evidence
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 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 10204241 · 2007-09-27 (September 27, 2007)
I HAVE A WORKHORSE CHASSIS WITH A BRAKE PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE ACTION # PEO732. I NOTICED DURING A TRIP TO FLORIDA IN APRIL THAT THE BRAKES SMELLED HOT AT THE REAR OF MOTORHOME DURING REFUELING. DURING MY TRIP TO SALT LAKE CITY AUGUST 1ST, 2007. MY BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND NOT COME BACK UP OR RELEASE THE BRAKES, I USED MY TOES TO BRING PEDAL BACK UP. IN UTAH I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC CENTER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, THEY DETERMINED IT TO BE A BAD BOOSTER PUMP. THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AND PEDAL WOULD COME BACK UP AND RELEASE THE BRAKES, BUT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293469 · 2009-11-24 (November 24, 2009)
WE DROVE 300 MILES AND FELT THE REAR CALIPERS HANGING UP ON 3 OCCASIONS. AS SOON AS WE GOT ON THE INTERSTATE, WE FELT THE MTRHOME HAD NO POWER, AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED AND THEN SMELLED BURNING BRAKE ODOR. STOPPED AT THE FIRST REST AREA IN A COUPLE OF MILES, LET THEM COOL FOR 2 HOURS, THEN THEY DID RELEASE AND AS LONG AS WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE NOT USING BRAKES, WE WERE FINE. AS SOON AS WE GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE TO GO TO THE RV PARK, WITHIN 2 MILES, THE BRAKES ONCE AGAIN HEATED UP BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE. NEXT DAY WE CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,289 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340773 · 2010-06-30 (June 30, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE W22. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO WHILE TRAVELING IN WARM WEATHER WITH A HALF OF TANK OF GAS OR LESS, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE, WHICH WAS TO RELOCATE THE FUEL CANISTER TO THE OUTSIDE THE CANISTER. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2,000.00, AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE IS CUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269632 · 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MONACO COACH LAPALMA MOTOR HOME. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING OVERHEATING ON HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE MOTOR HOME OVER TO INSPECT IT, BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. TWO MILES LATER, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME MUSHY AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION. BY THIS TIME, THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE MOTOR AND OIL LEAKING FROM THE BEARINGS. THE MECHANIC STATED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269632 at NHTSA ↗