2017 Thor Motor Coach Challenger problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (4) · Structure (1)
Safety recalls (5)
Structure:body:door 2021-10-29 · campaign 21V845000 · 424 vehicles
Defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2017 Challenger, Miramar, and Outlaw motorhomes. The external compartment outer door skin may separate from the motorhome during transit.
Risk: A door skin that separates during transit can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the compartment door skin and replace the door as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2021. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000247.
Visibility 2018-11-16 · campaign 18V812000 · 1,485 vehicles
Defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Thor Challenger, Miramar, and Outlaw motorhomes. The motorized windshield roller shade at the driver's seating position may unroll without warning while driving.
Risk: If the windshield roller shade unrolls while driving, it could block the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a fastener to ensure the motor will not allow the shade to roll down during while driving. The recall began January 10, 2019. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000165.
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.
Equipment:other:labels 2017-10-09 · campaign 17V634000 · 507 vehicles
Defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Challenger, Axis, Chateau, Four Winds, Hurricane, Miramar, Palazzo, Tuscany, Vegas, Venetian, and Windsport motorhomes. The cargo carrying capacity (CCC) label on these vehicles may indicate an incorrect water capacity for the water heater/fresh water tank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Tires and Rims for Motor vehicles over 10,000lbs."
Risk: If the water capacity information is incorrect and it causes the vehicle to be over loaded, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: TMC will notify owners and send them corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2017. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000147.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2017-06-02 · campaign 17V362000 · 88 vehicles
Defect: Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling certain 2017 Challenger 37YT motorhomes. The exhaust pipe from the onboard gasoline generator may be mislocated or missing completely on the subject vehicles.
Risk: Without a correctly installed generator exhaust pipe, there may be a buildup of carbon monoxide within the interior of the vehicle, increasing the risk of personal injury or death.
Fix: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorhomes for proper generator exhaust installation and routing, replacing or reinstalling the exhaust, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 3, 2017. Owner's may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000138.
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
2022-09-06 · Structure:body“my 2017 thor challenger was part of nhtsa recall 21v-845. i made repairs to my coach in 2017 and 2018 totaling $4600. i have sent thor all pictures and receipts from those repairs. i started the process in march 2022. last week they informed me it is not a thor recall, and i would have to deal with the company that manufactured the doors for…”
2021-11-15 · Structure · 19,100 mi“the contact owns a 2017 thor challenger motorhome. the contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, an abnormally loud banging sound was heard and another vehicle honked the contact, alerting him to look in the rearview mirror. the contact noticed styrofoam flying from the motorhome and the external compartment door flapping open. the contact pulle…”
2018-08-08 · Structure:body · 6,000 mi“the plunger on the trimark door handle/lock mechanism broke internally, locking us outside of our motor home. the motor home was parked.…”
2018-05-21 · Structure:body · 5,136 mi“on 04/16/2018at approximately 1:15 while traveling west on i-40 midway between mile marker238and236i heard a loud noise from the left side of the coach. i immediately looked in the left hand mirror, and saw what i thought was the battery compartment door, open, flapping in the breeze. i was approching exit236, so i exited and located a home depot p…”
2017-10-29 · Structure:body · 6,700 mi“we have owned our vehicle for 14 months with under 7000 miles driven and used approximately 12 times for trips. while we were preparing to leave, the trimark entry door latch broke leaving 3 people trapped inside and me outside. i had to climb through a window using a ladder with tools to disassemble the lock and pry out the broken plunger part. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.