2007 Damon CHALLENGER: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DAMON CHALLENGER RV. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 25 MPH HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE ELECTRICAL BRAKES FAILED. HE HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286354 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD DURING A RAINSTORM. WIPER BLADE ON DRIVER SIDE THEN HUNG BELOW THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. WIPE IS 32 INCHES LONG AND "SAGS" ON EACH PASS. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING THE BLADES, AND THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS US ON 2007 DAMON CHALLENGER CLASS A MOTORHOMES AS REPORTED ON THE WEBSITE WWW.IRV2.COM. DAMON DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON 2007 -2012 MODELS.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538621 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-06-30 (June 30, 2006)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE SPLINE CAN STRIP WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED.

Consequence: THIS STEERING CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WORKHORSE IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06V148000) AND WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-294-6773 OR DAMON AT 574-264-2900.

Reported: 2006-11-28 (November 28, 2006)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH GM 8.1L V8 ENGINES, IMPROPER HARDENING DURING THE HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP TO FRACTURE, RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER. IF THE DAMPER BECOMES LOOSE, FUEL COULD BE PUMPED BY THE FUEL PUMP INTO THE UNDER HOOD AREA.

Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: CHEVROLET AND WORKHORSE ARE HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V225 AND 06V289). DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIPS ON THESE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, WORKHORSE AT 877-294-6773, OR DAMON AT 1-574-264-5517.

Reported: 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE RED REAR REFLEX REFLECTORS AND SOME MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE SIDE REAR RED REFLEX REFLECTORS.

Consequence: DURING NIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS OR WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED, THE REAR AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REFLEX REFLECTION TO MARK THE VEHICLE'S LOCATION IN THE DARK INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DAMON WILL PROVIDE THE OWNERS WITH A KIT CONTAINING THE MISSING REFLECTORS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING THEM TO THEIR VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR DEALERS DO THE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAMON AT 1-800-860-3812.

Reported: 2009-06-16 (June 16, 2009)

DAMON IS RECALLING 2,415 MOTORHOMES 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.

Consequence: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY AND OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.

Reported: 2010-09-09 (September 9, 2010)

DAMON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 CHALLENGER, MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 INTRUDER MOTOR HOMES. THESE MOTOR HOMES DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR SUSPENSION LEAF SPRING AND THE VEHICLE LIQUID PROPANE FUEL TANK. AS THE SUSPENSION TRAVELS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE BOLT TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TANK. THIS POTENTIALLY COULD PUNCTURE THE TANK AND RESULT IN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR EXPLOSION, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DAMON WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE PROPER CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SHACKLE BOLT AND THE TANK EXISTS. IF IT IS FOUND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE, THE TANK WILL BE RELOCATED TO PROVIDE THE PROPER CLEARANCE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAMON WARRANTY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 877-855-2867.

Reported: 2011-01-25 (January 25, 2011)

THOR MOTOR COACH IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 DAMON CHALLENGER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 CHALLENGER PLATINUM, MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 DAYBREAK, MODEL YEAR 2010 DAYBREAK CLASSIC, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 DAYBREAK SPORT, MODEL YEAR 2007-2009, OUTLAW AND MODEL YEAR 2011 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE, RECREATIONAL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2007, THROUGH AUGUST 2008. THE FUEL-FILL CAP ASSEMBLIES USED TO SEAL THE UNUSED SIDE OF THE DUAL-FILL GASOLINE FUEL TANK WERE PRODUCED WITH A HOSE MATERIAL THAT DID NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. DURING NORMAL USAGE THE HOSE MATERIAL MAY DETERIORATE WHICH MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS.

Consequence: A FUEL LEAK INCREASES THE RISK OF A FIRE WHICH MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.

Remedy: NAVISTAR/WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY AND OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE NAVISTAR/WORKHORSE'S DEFECT REPORT 10V-348. NAVISTAR/WORKHORSE WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FUEL-FILL CAP ASSEMBLIES WITH ONES ASSEMBLED WITH HOSE MATERIAL THAT MEETS DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NAVISTAR AT 1-260-461-1890.