2003 Workhorse W20 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other W20 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Workhorse W20. That is the most of any W20 model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (11 complaints, 100%), typically at around 18,940 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 11owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Workhorse W20 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 100% | 18,940 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Workhorse W20 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Overheating disc brake caliper (EA07016) — opened Nov 16, 2007, closed Aug 19, 2009, led to recall 09V110000.
- Overheated brake calipers (PE07032) — opened Jun 25, 2007, closed Nov 19, 2007.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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
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…
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…
Other Workhorse W20 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 W20 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 W20 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 W20 | 3 | 2 |
| 2005 W20 | 3 | 2 |
| 2004 W20 | 7 | 2 |
| 2003 | 11 | 1 |
| 2002 W20 | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 W20 | 2 | 3 |
| 2000 W20 | 1 | 1 |
See all Workhorse W20 problems by year, every Workhorse model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Workhorse models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Workhorse W20?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Workhorse W20?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Workhorse W20 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other W20 model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.