2015 Thor Motor Coach Challenger problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1) · Structure (1)
Safety recalls (5)
Equipment 2017-11-22 · campaign 17V758000 · 110,400 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer 2017-09-07 · campaign 17V555000 · 1,105 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the windshield wipers cannot be used, driver visibility would be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer 2017-03-13 · campaign 17V162000 · 8,617 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Failure of the windshield wipers may impair the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2015-11-10 · campaign 15V745000 · 12,656 vehicles
Defect: 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 Wind
Risk: Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2015-01-08 · campaign 15V004000 · 154 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: The screws could fail, causing the supporting bracket to fail, and the awning to fall and potentially strike and injure a person beneath it.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (2)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2019-12-05 · LTR 120519 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this letter stated that there were no service bulletins or technical service bulletins issued for the month of november, 2019.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2017-11-03 · LTR 110317 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this letter stated that there was one (1) service notification issued for the month of october, 2017.
What owners report
2023-05-10 · Structure · 53,000 mi“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 be…”
2019-10-10 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages“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 …”
2017-09-27 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch · 16,000 mi“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. th…”
2017-06-26 · Visibility/Wiper · 18,000 mi“ 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 th…”
2016-12-15 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages“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 ab…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.