ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 Workhorse Chassis
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Workhorse Chassis, most frequently naming the brakes, suspension and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 2 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 2006 | 2 | 5 |
| Sep 2007 | 2 | 7 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 9 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 12 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 13 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 14 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 15 |
| Apr 2010 | 2 | 17 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 18 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 19 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 20 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 21 |
| Jul 2020 | 1 | 22 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes1664.0%
- Suspension28.0%
- Transmission28.0%
- Steering14.0%
- Body & structure14.0%
- Visibility14.0%
- Other / unspecified14.0%
- Powertrain (other)14.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
WINNEBAGO'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SEAL WINDSHIELD TO FRAME HAS CAUSED CORROSION AND RUST OVER TIME WHICH HAS CAUSED FRONT WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE. THE RUST HAS ALLOWED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHIFT AND BREAK, THUS CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11339969
- Incident
- Jul 16, 2020
- Mileage
- 2 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE FAILED. THE BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE TO OVERHEAT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TOT HE FLOOR AND THE ALARM SOUNDED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 10 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE RV HOME SLOWLY AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS OF 11/19/12 THE RV HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 12/10/12 *CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10481374
- Incident
- Oct 18, 2012
- Mileage
- 13,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE CHASSIS, MODEL P32 (N/A). THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED ON A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE PARK BRAKE ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 70,914.
- NHTSA ID
- 10472006
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2012
- Mileage
- 70,914 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE W22 CHASSIS WITH 24,000 MILES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 09V110000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE FRONT BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED ON THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10341598
- Incident
- Jun 16, 2009
- Mileage
- 24,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE P32 CHASSIS RV. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LEFT BRAKES LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HIS DESTINATION WITHOUT BRAKES. AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,940. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/04/10*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10332466
- Incident
- Apr 8, 2010
- Mileage
- 30,700 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SEEMED TO OCCUR AT ALL SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT DUE TO THE PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10327531
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2009
- Mileage
- 45,000 mi
BRAKES FAILED, HAD TO BE TOWED TRAVELING IN ALABAMA. REPLACED DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER (2-3-09). REPLACED REAR BRAKES (8-13-09). FRONT BRAKES LOCKED , SMOKING,HAD TO BE TOWED. REPLACED FRONT CALIPERS, (2-26-10). OUT OF POCKET COST TO DATE $3720.75. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10324723
- Incident
- Feb 26, 2010
- Mileage
- 29,000 mi
THIS LETTER IS TO COMMUNICATE MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN MY WORKHORSE CHASSIS. ON JANUARY 1, 2008 WE WERE MOVING OUR MOTOR HOME TO A NEW RV PARK FOR THE MONTH. I STARTED TO SMELL A BAD ODOR WHILE DRIVING IN MODERATE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I PULLED THE COACH INTO A SERVICE STATION TO DISCOVER A SMOKING AND STUCK HOT BRAKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR. I UNHOOKED MY TOW VEHICLE AND BACKED UP MY COACH AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE. I CONTACTED A WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AT THAT TIME THEY INFORMED ME THEY ONLY DO WARRANTY WORK ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS. I THEN CONTACTED A SERVICE PERSON TO COME TO MY COACH AS I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE THE UNIT. AT THAT TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AT A COST OF $ 1,989.19. ON OCTOBER 31, 2008 WE EXPERIENCED A THUMPING VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN TENNESSEE. AFTER WE GOT DOWN, I STOPPED THE COACH TO CHECK FOR HOT BRAKES. THEY SEEMED TO BE OK SO WE PROCEEDED TO MOVE ON TO BRADENTON, FLORIDA WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008 WE HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPAIRED AT A COST OF $339.63 FROM A WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER. THEY ASSURED ME THE BRAKES WERE OK AT THAT TIME. SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING HOME FOR THE SUMMER I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL 50901-C BUT FELT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO BECAUSE OF THE ABOVE REPAIRS. ON OCTOBER 30, 2009, WE WERE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON OUR WAY TO GULF SHORES, AL. MUCH TO MY DISMAY WE ARRIVED AT THE RV PARK AND SMELLED SOMETHING HOT AGAIN. I STOPPED TO INSPECT THE COACH AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKE WAS OVERHEATED. WE WAITED FOR THE BRAKE TO COOL BEFORE MOVING TO OUR SITE. THE PAST SUMMER I STORED MY UNIT INSIDE AND DROVE IT ON THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH WHEN I EXERCISED MY GENERATOR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE WORKHORSE CHASSIS! AT THIS POINT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10290494
- Incident
- Oct 30, 2009
- Mileage
- 37,242 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
As communicated previously, an issue discovered in DiagnosticLink version 8.14SP1 was fixed with the release of 8.14SP3 on August26. The issue related to incorrect parameter data being sent to the server for some Chassis ECUs.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAK UNDER EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES (-34 DEGREES C) (-30 DEGREES F) OR COLDER). *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 39.5 |
| 2003Viewing | 22 | 1 | 0 | 41.4 |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.