2016 Thor Motor Outlaw problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (3) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages (1) · Seat Belts (1)
Safety recalls (6)
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.
Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments 2016-12-13 · campaign 16V893000 · 209 vehicles
Defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Outlaw motorhomes, models 37BG, 37LS, 37RB, 38RE and 38RF, manufactured January 13, 2016, to December 8, 2016. The affected vehicles have rear cargo door hinges with welds that may be inadequate for securing the hinge pin to the hinge plate.
Risk: If the welds are insufficient, the hinge may fail and the door could open with more force than normal, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hinge weld thickness, replacing the hinge as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 6, 2017. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2015-10-30 · campaign 15V719000 · 209 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the vehicle can be shifted into reverse without the brakes being applied, the vehicle may unintentionally move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:other:labels 2015-04-15 · campaign 15V224000 · 168 vehicles
Defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Four Winds, Citation, Outlaw, Chateau, Siesta, and Freedom Elite motorhomes manufactured February 14, 2015, to April 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may be missing the water weight carrying capability information on the Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity (OCCC) label . As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/R
Risk: If the vehicle is loaded to its weight capacity without including the weight of the water carried onboard, the motorhome may be overloaded. This can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: TMC will notify owners and will provide a new OCCC label with the correct information, free of charge. The recall began on May 1, 2015. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000099.
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
2018-06-01 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch · 16,000 mi“exit door lock broke, preventing us from exiting the motorhome. trimark brand lock set is both a dead bolt and spring latch. spring latch broke into two pieces and remained in the locked position. trimark has made a replacement lock set to replace this defective set. so trimark is aware of this issue. thor online forum and other rv forums repor…”
2018-01-22 · Visibility/Wiper · 5,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 ford f-53 motorhome. the contact stated that the vehicle had a recall for the windshield wipers. the vehicle was taken to the motor coach headquarters (701 county rd 15, elkhart, in 46516) where the vehicle was repaired; however, the windshield wipers still failed to function properly. the contact called the manufacturer…”
2017-07-13 · Visibility/Wiper · 2,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 thor outlaw. the contact stated that the rear rv egress window deatched from the rv while being operated at 60 mph. this is located in the bunk area above the front passenger side.the vehicle was taken to general rv where it was diagnosed that the window detached and needed to be replaced. the window was replaced, but th…”
2017-05-05 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages · 130 mi“please see attached letter describing wiper functions and damage done to my rv as a result. ..updated 05/15/17 *bf *as *cn…”
2017-02-02 · Visibility/Wiper · 1,200 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 thor outlaw 37rb rv. while driving 55 mph, the slide opened. the failure could cause the slide to hit vehicles in another lane. the manufacturer replaced the motors for the slides and adjusted the slide, but the failure recurred. also, when driving in the rain for the first time, the windshield wipers failed. the vehicle…”
2016-08-21 · Seat Belts · 1,500 mi“while driving on the highway i was hit in the side of the head by the upper safety belt assembly and nut causing me to swerve off the road and almost hit construction barrels on the side of the road. had my wife take a picture of the nut that came off. i also had my passenger check the seat belt upper attachment on his side and the nut was not se…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.