Thor Motor Coach CHALLENGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
16,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 33 complaints (39.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 13 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 |
Visibility/Wiper: 13; Structure:Body: 6; Structure: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11100686 · 2018-06-09 (June 9, 2018)
MY WIFE AND I TOOK DELIVERY OF OUR THOR RV AT 7PM ON 12/05/14 WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF EVER BEING ALLOWED TO TEST DRIVE THE RV. MANY EXCUSES BY CAMPING WORLD. LEFT DEALER AND DROVE 300 YEARS ON NEARBY SURFACE ROAD AND BRAKED TO JOIN ENTRANCE RAMP TO INTERSTATE 75. BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE 3 POUND, RIGID 4 FOOT VINYL-CLAD, WOODEN FRAME COVERING HAD DISLODGED FROM THE ELECTRIC OVERHEAD BUNK FRAME AND DROPPED TO THE DRIVER'S FLOOR BEHIND BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. COULD NOT SLOW COACH FROM 35MPH BUT FORCED TO THE SHOULDER OF ROAD UNDER OVERHEAD INTERSTATE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,344 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354942 · 2020-09-14 (September 14, 2020)
WHILE TRAVELING ON A INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE MOTOR SHUT OFF AND WE LOST ALL POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. ALL POWER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SHUT OFF SO WE HAD NO LIGHTS ON THE EXTERIOR TO SEE OR SIGNAL OTHER VEHICLES. I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,645 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10682941 · 2015-02-12 (February 12, 2015)
I WISH TO REPORT A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD TO 2013 THOR CHALLENGER MODEL 37KT MOTOR HOMES. MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 THOR CHALLENGER MODEL 37KT MOTOR HOME IN JUNE, 2012. THE UNIT DID NOT COME WITH LED LIGHTING. I WISH TO STATE THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE FULLTIME RV'ERS. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015, MY WIFE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE DOING PAPERWORK. THE LIGHT FIXTURE ABOVE THE TABLE HAD BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL HOURS. WE DISCOVERED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC AND FOUND THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097125 · 2018-05-21 (May 21, 2018)
ON 04/16/2018AT APPROXIMATELY 1:15 WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON I-40 MIDWAY BETWEEN MILE MARKER238AND236I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COACH. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED IN THE LEFT HAND MIRROR, AND SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT DOOR, OPEN, FLAPPING IN THE BREEZE. I WAS APPROCHING EXIT236, SO I EXITED AND LOCATED A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT JUST OFF THE EXIT. I PULLED INTO THE HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT AND UPON CHECKING THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT DOOR, FOUND THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURED. WHAT I SAW WAS IN FACT, THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,136 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097125 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 0; 2022: 0; 2023: 0