2015 Thor Motor Coach CHALLENGER: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE SMOKEY MOUNTAIN INTERSTATE ONE EVENING DURING A HEAVY DOWN POUR, MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DISAPPEARED FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND WITH MOMENTS, THE DRIVERS SIDE QUIT WORKING. DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILIT, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNEATELY, THERE WAS A TRACTOR TRAILER IN FRONT OF US AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE ITS REAR LIGHTS AND FOLLOWED IT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. AT THE BOTTOM I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND INSPECTED THE WIPERS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD LODGED ITSELF INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING L…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10935748 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 THOR CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED ON THE HIGHWAY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER WIPER UN-TORQUED AND JAMMED THE DRIVER'S WIPER. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THEIR OWN VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING A NEW CRANK ARM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF ANY PART OF THAT WIPER SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY THE INTEGRITY OF THE WIPER SYSTEM WOULD BE COMPROMISED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V162000 (VISIBILITY) THE FOLLOWING DAY.…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001435 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 THOR CHALLENGER MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTRANCE DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE MOTOR HOME. A PASSENGER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE. THE DOOR WAS EVENTUALLY PRIED OPEN TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE LOCK WAS REPLACED BY THE OWNER AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN CONSUMER STATED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030206 at NHTSA ↗

THOR WIPER ISSUE STILL CONTINUES. IN APRIL 2019, I HAD MY RV IN FOR THE WIPER RECALL. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE ACORN NUTS HOLDING THE WIPER ARMS AND TOLD ME THE REMEDY HAD BEEN PERFORMED. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS IT FAILED AGAIN. I REACHED OUT TO THOR ON OCTOBER 7, 2019 AND SPOKE WITH BRIAN IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINING MY PROBLEM, HE TOLD ME I HAD A LINKAGE ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE WIPER TO OVER TRAVEL AND JAM WITH THE DRIVER WIPER. HE RECOMMEND I TAKE IT TO A THOR REPAIR DEALERSHIP CLAIMING THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11268530 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2015 Thor Challenger RV built on a 2014 Ford F-53 chassis. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, he observed from the passenger side rear view mirror that the door skin had begun to peel away from the door. The contact pulled off the roadway and observed that the skin had delaminated from the door and had only been held in place by the lock and door handle. The contact took the door handle and lock mechanism off and removed the laminate and stored it in the RV. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11521394 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-01-08 (January 8, 2015)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Challenger, Four Winds 5000, Hurricane, Miramar, Chateau Citation, Chateau, Windsport, and Palazzo motorhomes manufactured April 24, 2014, to December 11, 2014, and equipped with certain Latitude awnings manufactured by Carefree of Colorado. The affected awnings may have screws that attach the lateral arm brackets to the mounting brackets that were not manufactured to specification.

Consequence: The screws could fail, causing the supporting bracket to fail, and the awning to fall and potentially strike and injure a person beneath it.

Remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will remove and replace the defective screws, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2015. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000097.

Reported: 2015-11-10 (November 10, 2015)

Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Thor Challenger, Thor Citation, Thor Hurricane, Thor Tuscany, Thor Windsport, 2011-2012 Thor Astoria, Thor Avanti, Thor Chateau, 2011-2014 Thor Daybreak, 2011-2015 Thor Outlaw, Thor Siesta, 2014-2015 Thor Miramar, 2012 Thor Four Winds, 2008-2011 Damon Astoria, Damon Daybreak, Damon Outlaw, Damon Tuscany, 2008-2012, Damon Challenger, 2008-2010 Damon Essence, 2009-2011 Damon Avanti, Four Winds Chateau, Four Winds Citation, Four Winds Four Winds, Four Winds Hurricane, Four Winds Siesta, Four Winds Windsport, 2009-2010 Four Winds Dorado, Four Winds Dutchmen, Four Winds Magellan, Four Winds Mandalay and 2009 Four Winds Fun Mover, and Four Winds Presidio motorhomes. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain Lippert-brand Coachstep Double and Triple Electric Steps. These steps use a bolt to attach the fan gear assembly to the steps. This bolt may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may be unstable.

Consequence: Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Thor will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer bracket to reinforce the operating mechanism and replace all of the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Thor customer service at 1-877-855-2867. Thor's number for this recall is RC000111.

Reported: 2017-03-13 (March 13, 2017)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2014-2015 ACE, Hurricane, Challenger, Daybreak, Miramar, Outlaw, and Windsport motorhomes. These vehicles have windshield wiper systems that may have been improperly installed and secured, possibly causing the wipers to fail during use.

Consequence: Failure of the windshield wipers may impair the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: TMC has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the wiper arm securing nuts, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2017. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867.

Reported: 2017-09-07 (September 7, 2017)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Ace, Challenger, Daybreak, Hurricane, Miramar, Outlaw, Windsport, Palazzo, Tuscany, and Tuscany XTE motorhomes. The windshield wipers may fail due to the system being incorrectly installed or secured.

Consequence: If the windshield wipers cannot be used, driver visibility would be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiper system to verify it is installed correctly, repairing or replacing the system as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 27, 2017. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000146. Note: Although some of the vehicles included in this recall have previously been remedied under recalls 17V-096 or 17V-162, the vehicles may need additional repairs under this campaign.

Reported: 2017-11-22 (November 22, 2017)

Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling various 2003-2018 recreational vehicles, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. See a list of the affected trailer models at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V758-5764.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Thor will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2018. Owners may contact Thor customer service at 1-877-500-1020, or Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information.