NHTSA Complaint #10096447 — 2001 WORKHORSE W22

WE HAVE A 2001 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER CLASS A MOTORHOME ON A WORKHORSE W22 CHASSIS. I AM WRITING REGARDING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. IN AUGUST 2004, WHILE DRIVING, IT FELT LIKE THE RV WAS GETTING A FLAT TIRE. WE PULLED OVER AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF THAT. ALL THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS AND GAUGES WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND NO WARNING LIGHTS. ON CONTINUING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, IT WOULD STEER TO THE RIGHT QUITE NOTICEABLY, AND THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER, THE MELTED ABS SENSOR AND THE CRACKED ROTOR DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. I CALLED WORKHORSE AND THEY HAD NO BRAKE, SENSOR OR ROTOR PROBLEMS REPORTED. WE USED OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1,252.67. WARRANTY PAID $356.68 AND WE PAID $895.99. THE RV HAD 19,335 MILES. SINCE THEN WE HAVE READ OF A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEMS, AND TALKED WITH A CAMPER WHO HAD REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE WAS EVIDENTLY SOME MALFUNCTION FOR THE ABS LIGHT NOT TO GIVE US A WARNING WHEN I CHECKED THE DASHBOARD. WE HAVE BRAGGED ON THE WORKHORSE CHASSIS TO SO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS AND HAVE BEEN REALLY PLEASED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE UP TO THIS POINT. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WORKHORSE WOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE US AND THE WARRANTY CO.*AK