2004 Workhorse Chassis Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Workhorse Chassis, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes2767.5%
- Electrical512.5%
- Engine37.5%
- Fuel system12.5%
- Other / unspecified12.5%
- Steering12.5%
- Tires & wheels12.5%
- Transmission12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS W22. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER WITH A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE CONTACT HAD THE CALIPERS REPLACED ON THE WORKHORSE CHASSIS UNDER A RECALL, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ROTORS TO CRACK AND BREAK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT FIX ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL AND THAT ANY DAMAGE CAUSED FROM THE FAILURE IN THE CALIPERS, WOULD BE THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17000. UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ UPDATED 04/14/11
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY GOES BLACK (NO DISPLAY) AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS W22. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING DOWN 295@ 70 MPH , ENGINE DIED, LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALL ELECTRICAL. DEAD IN THE WATER, NEEDED TO TOW. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CHASSIS. APPARENTLY THE IGNITION SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN BURNS OUT BECAUSE IT IS OVERLOADED. WORKHORSE OFFERS A FIX USING RELAY COSTS OVER $300.00, SO THEY MUST REALIZE IT IS A PROBLEM.
2004 SIGHTSEER, -MODEL# WFD30B. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MR JUST SLOWING DOWN AS IF THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLYED. I HAD THE ENGINE SCOPED AND ALL WAS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE BRAKES, BUT WORKHORSE SAID MY MODEL WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. HAVE BEEN TOLD 1. WRONG CATALYTIC CONVERTER 2. FUEL FILTER 3. BRAKES GETTING HOT AND GRABBING. 4. PARKING BRAKE NOT RELEASING. I HAD TO STOP FOR 30-40 MINUTES, THEN COULD DRIVE FOR 2-3 HOURS, THEN THE LOAE OF POWER OCCURED AGAIN ? HELP! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 SIGHTSEER, -MODEL# WFD30B. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MR JUST SLOWING DOWN AS IF THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLYED. I HAD THE ENGINE SCOPED AND ALL WAS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE BRAKES, BUT WORKHORSE SAID MY MODEL WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. HAVE BEEN TOLD 1. WRONG CATALYTIC CONVERTER 2. FUEL FILTER 3. BRAKES GETTING HOT AND GRABBING. 4. PARKING BRAKE NOT RELEASING. I HAD TO STOP FOR 30-40 MINUTES, THEN COULD DRIVE FOR 2-3 HOURS, THEN THE LOAE OF POWER OCCURED AGAIN ? HELP! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 REXHALL MOTOR HOME WITH A WORK HORSE CHASSIS ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE STEEL WHEELS ON THE MOTOR HOME CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THREE WHEELS REPLACED. THE INSPECTION OF THE WHEELS DETERMINED THAT THE CRACK WAS DUE TO A DEFECT. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF STATE AND NO LONGER DEALT WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, BUT REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHASSIS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED WORK HORSE, AND THEY REPLACED TWO WHEELS AFTER THEY CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS WRITING A LETTER TO WORK HORSE TO INFORM THEM OF THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING DOWN 295@ 70 MPH , ENGINE DIED, LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALL ELECTRICAL. DEAD IN THE WATER, NEEDED TO TOW. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CHASSIS. APPARENTLY THE IGNITION SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN BURNS OUT BECAUSE IT IS OVERLOADED. WORKHORSE OFFERS A FIX USING RELAY COSTS OVER $300.00, SO THEY MUST REALIZE IT IS A PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A PREMATURE TIRE BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE CONTACT DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, HE DROVE TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE FIVE REMAINING TIRES REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE CRACKED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,939 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,300.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS P32 RV. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFT LOCK BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .