2003 Workhorse W20 Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

2003 Workhorse W20 recalls

Most common 2003 Workhorse W20 problems

Problem areas named in the 11 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	12

What owners report

2009-03-24, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2ND OCCURRENCE OF BRAKE STICKING / DRAG DURING THIS TRIP. R REAR BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE AFTER BRAKING CAUSING DRAG & OVERHEATING. THIS (AND THE PREVIOUS REPORTED INCIDENT) OCCURRED AFTER GOING THROUGH A SECTION OF IN-TOWN STOP & GO TRAFFIC & STOP LIGHTS. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS RECOGNIZED QUICKLY AND WAS NOT AS SEVERE AS THE PREVIOUS ONE. I WAS ABLE TO COOL THE BRAKES DOWN AND THEY RELEASED. *TR

2009-03-16, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE FAILURE - LOCKUP OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPER / ROTOR CAUSING OVERHEATING AND BRAKE FAILURE. NO SERIOUS INJURY RESULTED. CAUSED TRIP DELAY AND SIGNIFICANT COST TO REPAIR REPLACE BRAKE COMPONENTS AFFECTED. DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED SIGNIFICANT OVERHEATING AND CRACKING OF THE FRONT ROTORS AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF SAME AND PADS & SEALS AT A COST OF APPROX $900. THIS UNIT WAS PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 37600 MILES AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER (WH SERVICE CENTER) INSPECTED AND REPLACE BRAKE PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS. THIS UNIT IS STORED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT A TIME BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN INSIDE STORAGE AND THE UNIT IS NOT DRIVEN IN WINTER WEATHER. *TR

2009-02-18, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE AN UPDATE ON AN INQUIRY HE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED RE W20 AND W22 CHASSIS BRAKES. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE BOILING BRAKE FLUID ALSO LEAD TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. *JB

2008-08-23, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PARTIAL LOCKUP OF REAR CALIPERS ON A 2003 WORKHORSE W-20 CHASSIS ON A 2004 FLEETWOOD FLAIR 33R MOTORHOME AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES ON RELATIVELY FLAT HIGHWAY ENTERING TRAFFIC WITH STOPLIGHTS. AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES IN THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, A SLIGHT 'BRAKE SMELL' WAS NOTICED. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM HOME. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE WHEELS AND BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM HOME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND HAD BRAKES. I LIMPED HOME IN THIS CONDITION. PARKED AT HOME I NOTICED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS HOT, THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES WAS HO

2008-07-09, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE MY 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTOR HOME ON A WORKHORSE CHASSIS WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (ABS) I WAS INFORMED THAT MY BRAKE FLUID HAD OVER HEATED AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM REQUIRED REPLACEMENT (CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE FLUID OVERHEATED, TURNED TO A JELLY AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PISTONS TO RETRACT AFTER THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED. WORHORSE WAS CONTACTED BY DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. I RETAINED 2 OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. RELATED TO NHTSA EA07016. *TR

2003 Workhorse W20 questions

Does the 2003 Workhorse W20 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 2003 Workhorse W20: Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Workhorse W20?

Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Service Brakes, Hydraulic (12).

How do I check if a recall on my 2003 Workhorse W20 has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.