bomre340
So Cal
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Joined: 11/11/2007
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Last week I experienced total brake failure at 18,000 miles on a 2003 Winnebago 35U on a W22 Workhorse chassis. I purchased the coach in Ohio and drove it back to California. All was fine until 70 miles from home, I experienced the brake pedal going to the floor and no brakes. After pulling over, I did a walk around to find right rear wheel hot and smoke coming from brake. I let the unit cool down for 2 hours and everything came back to normal. I took the coach to Workhorse dealer and after inspection they said the computer read-out indicated that I was "riding the brakes" therefore no warranty (recall) coverage. Needless to say, I was not riding the brakes so I called Workhorse. They were very defensive, probably from dealing with a lot of upset customers, but acknowledged this vehicle was going to be part of the recall and what I had experienced, including the result of the inspection, was well documented and would be fixed once the actual recall was here. But, at this time they would not cover any of the cost for inspection, damage and or replacement of brake fluid although they said purging the brake system of old fluid "helps." They further told me that the recall "fix" that was scheduled for this fall has been delayed again and will more than likely, not be available until spring of 2010. Customer relations were not sympathetic to my situation and stood firm that Workhorse is not going to do anything about trying to fix my brakes until the recall this spring. So in the end, I paid the dealer $360 to have the wheels R&R, brakes inspected and the brake fluid changed. I can only pray that changing the brake fluid remedies the "no brakes" condition. It is outrageous that Workhorse is not doing everything possible to keep good customer relations by handling some of these costs and/or replacing damaged components. Instead they stick by the story that they are having issues with customers "riding the brakes." They do this, while at the same time, acknowledging that the computer read-outs are B/S and further admit that they have a problem. This leads me to believe they have made a calculated decision that the cost to remedy these problems by keeping consumers safe far outweighs their liability in case of accidents or God help us, deaths caused by the no brake situation. Good customer relations....does not seem to be a consideration.
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rgatijnet1
Florida
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Joined: 06/22/2009
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Sorry you had the problem. As some have already posted on this forum in the many WH brake topics, they have received decent service from WH and had their brakes repaired at no charge. Since every WH service center is different, it may help everyone to post the name of the WH service center that would not take care of your problem so that others can avoid them. I would also contact the NHTSA by phone and report the incident and the refusal of WH to take care of things.
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FrontRangeRVer
8,600 feet elevation in the Rockies
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Joined: 07/22/2005
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We see that this is your second post about this Workhorse Brake failure, and on your other thread, it looks like some good advise was given to you.
Any posts with "Workhorse Brakes" is going to get alot of attention, as us Workhorse Chassis owners are all in this together and our chassis are taking a huge resale hit because Workhorse continued to deny there was a problem for over 7 years until the NHTSA stepped in.
Lets all just hope that Workhorse steps up to the plate with the REAL OFFICIAL recall instead of this "interim recall" nonsense. Hopefully Workhorse won't file Chapter 11 before then!
2006 Winnebago Voyage 35A
W-22 Chassis
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flrvman
Texas
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Joined: 01/29/2006
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Most "A" motorhomes for sale are Workhorse. IMHO I would try to sell. A lot of owners are doing just that. Shame on Workhorse. I read were when and if they find a fix there are over 40,000 units to be fixed. That might just break them. Only time will tell. Glad I don't have one and never owned one.
2007 B+ Lexington GTS 300SS Blue & Grey Ford V-10
2005 Malibu LT V6 toad
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bullydogs1
New Jersey
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Joined: 06/26/2006
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I had the 2006 W22 chassis on a Coachmen Aurora and went to a DP for different reasons...I never had the brake problem but somehow I'm glad I traded this coach....I know where it is right now because it was involved in a failed dealer and ended up on a Pa dealers' lot...I only hope that when it is finally sold....the person gets the recall done..and I never received any recall notice from either Coachmen or Workhorse either...
Stuart and Stella Denning
2009 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 41SKQ
The 3 Bulldogs (Summer, Sully, and Sierra)
2007 Saturn Vue (TOAD)
I tawt I taw a puddy tat
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Phillerup
USA
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Joined: 10/15/2002
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I cannot believe what keeps going on with this Workhorse mess. I believe I remember reading earlier this year that they would have the parts and be fixing units in October.....well, it's October....I then read that they were running a "little" late and it would be November.....Then I think I read that they would be fixing units by the first of the year........I recently read that they would be fixing units by spring of 2010.......
If my math is right --- 40,000 units at say a guesstimate of maybe $2000 per unit is
80 million dollars.....Good Luck.
2003 Newmar DSDP 4005 dual slide king bed Spartan 350 Cummins 2004 Jeep Liberty 4X4 tow, SeaEagle boat in basement
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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Workhorse tells nearly everyone with brake failures like yours that it was their fault. They did the same to me. The fact that I had previously driven 85,000 trouble-free miles on a similar large Class A with a Ford chassis and only 35,000 miles on the Workhorse made no difference. They told me the same thing after it happened a second time, even though I had been extra careful because of the earlier experience. Since the second failure I have instrumented my brake pads with thermocouples and on two occasions have seen evidence of overheating caused NOT by riding the brakes but apparently by a sticky caliper, which is the the crux of the lagging recall. I am out a lot of money to replace cracked rotors and even more in loss of resale value. Needless to say I am not happy with Workhorse and suggest that anyone in the market examine the evidence before buying one.
I am curious about the metrics behind this allegation of a trouble code indicating that you were riding the brakes. What parameter was being monitored? Was it actual pedal application or something secondary parameter like temperature?
* This post was
edited 10/31/09 07:29pm by hwybnb *
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J-Rooster
Port Orchard, Wa. U.S.A.
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Joined: 11/14/2004
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I had a similar problem so I called workhorse toll free at 1-800-246-7731 and I talked to Erika Kuplicki at Workhorse. She told me to take my coach to a Workhorse Dealer for an inspection, then upon approval of that inspection the dealer would put new (old style calipers back in until the recall) brake parts in. I haven't done this yet, because I'm awaiting the recall! This is going to cost Bosch millions of $$$? John
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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J-Rooster wrote:This is going to cost Bosch millions of $$$? John Indeed. There are reportedly 45,000 or so chassis involved, each with four calipers. If the cost to manufacture and install each one is $50 (WAG) the bill will come to $9 million.
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gasolineass
Crossville TN Cumberland
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Joined: 10/20/2004
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After you have called both the WorkHorse 800 number and the NHTSA number about the brake incident, how do you really know that your complaint was registered to your motor home?
H.R.Walters
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