2016 Thor Motor Coach CHALLENGER: complaints, problems and recalls

WIPERS FLOP TO ONE SIDE AND GET STUCK. TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL AND STILL NOT FIXED. HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE NEW.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,548 miles reported. Look up ODI 11004725 at NHTSA ↗

THE WIPER BLADES MALFUNCTION. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE WIPERS ON, THE RIGHT WIPER GETS STUCK UNDER THE LEFT WIPER AND BOTH BECOME INOPERABLE. WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN HEAVY RAINS SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I WENT FROM 26 INCH WIPER BLADES TO 21 INCH BLADES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVE REMOVED THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER, AND USE THE LEFT WIPER SPARINGLY. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I AM DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN I HAVE SEEN STATIONARY. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY ONLY SOLUTION IS I HAVE BEEN USING RAINX. TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,782 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141597 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 THOR CHALLENGER RV. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE WAS LOOSE AND BECAME LOCKED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER. THE FAILURE OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CAMPING WORLD OF TAMPA (4811 MCINTOSH RD, DOVER, FL 33527, [phone removed]), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11234767 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAINSTORM. THEY WERE STUCK, THE DRIVER SIDE WAS PAST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE LEFT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BUT LOWER THAN THE WINDSHIELD ITSELF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT NO COST.

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11373203 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK WHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN CONDITIONS. THE PASSENGER WIPER TRAVELS INTO THE DRIVER SIDE WIPERS MECHANISM AND PREVENTS THEM FROM WORKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AFTER BEING "FIXED" BY THOR UNDER A RECALL. NEVER HAVE THEY REPLACED THE SYSTEM, ONLY WASHERS AND TIGHTENED BOLTS. TRAVELING IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT AND THEN AGAIN IN DAYLIGHT BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY, AT 55-70 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST.

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403296 at NHTSA ↗

Windshield wipers stopped working during a rainstorm. The passenger side was stuck below the windshield and caused the driver side to also stop operating.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418339 at NHTSA ↗

Windshield wipers get stuck in the up position. Going highway speed in heavy rain. Lost visibility. Spoke with Larry Long with NHTSA. He advised that I make this report and that there are active recalls for this problem.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431991 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-10-23 (October 23, 2015)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Challenger, Hurricane and Windsport motorhomes manufactured July 31, 2015, to September 9, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the parking brake actuator may be out of calibration causing the parking brake system to not properly hold the vehicle even with the parking brake pedal fully depressed. Additionally, the parking brake may not disengage completely when the parking brake pedal is released.

Consequence: If the parking brake does not fully engage, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash. A parking brake that drags may result in a wheel end fire.

Remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake foot pedal assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000107.

Reported: 2015-10-30 (October 30, 2015)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ace, Challenger, Hurricane, Miramar, Outlaw, and Windsport vehicles manufactured July 14, 2015, to October 16, 2015. Due to an incorrect shift cable bracket and an improper shift cable adjustment, the affected vehicles can be shifted out of 'PARK' without applying the brakes.

Consequence: If the vehicle can be shifted into reverse without the brakes being applied, the vehicle may unintentionally move, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners on TMC's behalf, and Ford dealers will replace the transmission shift control bracket and adjust the transmission shift cable, free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2015. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000110.

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.