2016 Thor Motor Coach WINDSPORT: complaints, problems and recalls

PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SLAMS DOWN UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER CAUSING ALL WIPER ACTION TO CEASE DURING RAINSTORMS. CREATES A DEADLY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AN 11 TON UNIT DOWN THE ROAD.. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SYSTEM - TOO THIN OF A MOUNTING PLATE FOR THE WIPER MOTOR ALLOWING TOO MUCH FLEX WHICH ALLOWS WIPER LINKAGE FROM MOTOR TO ARMS HANG UP ON MOTOR MOUNTING BOLTS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WHICH SAY THEY FIXED IT. THEY DIDN'T.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873730 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 THOR WINDSPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND BECAME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SCREWS IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD DISLODGED DUE TO THE SEVERE SHAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IMPROPERLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 10/26/16*LJ *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895360 at NHTSA ↗

CPSC: UPON CLIMBING UP I HEARD A NOISE AND DIDNT THINK MUCH OF IT. WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN I HEARD MORE NOISE AND NOTICED THE SCREWS HOLDING THE LADDER TO THE RV WERE COMING OUT. WHEN I GOT TO THE BOTTOM IT WAS WORSE THAN I THOUGHT. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE LADDER WAS SEPARATING FROM THE RV. ALSO, THE TUBES HOLDING THE LADDER TO THE RV WERE BENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS *JS *TT*DT *AS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11104409 at NHTSA ↗

ON FREEWAY, WIND AND RAIN--WIPERS BECAME ENTANGLED. SELF REPAIRED TO GET HOME. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR (RECALL). STILL NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. TAKEN IN FOR SECOND RECALL--STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HAD THE WIPERS READJUSTED AGAIN. IN RAIN ON 10/01/2018--WIPERS FLOPPING AND NOT MAKING GOOD CONTACT...SAFETY ISSUE!!! FROM 2016 TO PRESENT WE HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS WITH THE WIPER ARMS.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132839 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN WIPER BLADES ARE TURNED ON IN THE HIGHWAY, THE WIPER GO DOWN TOO FAR AND GET STUCK BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO USE THE WIPERS.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11229472 at NHTSA ↗

MOTORHOME CAME OUT OF PARK AND BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN PRIVATE DRIVEWAY UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER WAS PULLED DOWN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OR THE BRAKES APPLIED. OWNER WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE AND APPLY BRAKES PREVENTING ANY DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR LIFE.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416271 at NHTSA ↗

While driving during a rain storm both wipers stopped working. Drivers wiper fell to drivers side resting on side rear view mirror and passengers fell down front of the RV. Pulled over and stopped until rain stopped. After looking in engine compartment the hardware that connects both wiper arms to the motor broke off from where the wipers arms connect. No indication of failure until both arms just broke off. Looks like they broke because of stress moving the wipers across windshield. Not sure if poor design of poor metal used.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439642 at NHTSA ↗

This is a 2016 THOR Windsport 29M with 9400 miles. Missing parts/damaged parts were discovered during normal maintenance check by certified ASE mechanic. RT rear anti sway bar retainer (#5486), (2) HB3 Bolts and (1) welded flange nuts are missing from motorhome. Additional inspection revels top welded flange nut missing due to weld not holding or never welded correctly. Bottom flange nut internal threads are galled and will not accept a correct M10 bolt.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481288 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-05-07 (May 7, 2015)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Hurricane and Windsport motorhomes manufactured March 10, 2015, to March 24, 2015. In the affected motorhomes, the co-pilot seats may be attached to the floor of the motorhome in an area that is not properly reinforced.

Consequence: If the floor at the attachment point is not properly reinforced, the seat base mounting may loosen over time, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a reinforcement plate at the co-pilot seat mounting bolt location, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2015. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000101.

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: 2016-03-07 (March 7, 2016)

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Hurricane and Windsport motor homes manufactured January 30, 2013, to March 6, 2015. In the affected motor homes, the vehicle exhaust is located near a storage compartment where heat may build-up, causing the compartment to melt.

Consequence: Heat build-up in the vehicle storage compartment increases the risk of fire.

Remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a heat shield to prevent heat build-up in the storage compartment. The recall began on April 20, 2016. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000112.

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.