2002 Beaver Coach Patriot Thunder Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Beaver Coach Patriot Thunder, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure120.0%
- Brakes120.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Other / unspecified120.0%
- Tires & wheels120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR JACK ON DRIVER SIDE DETACHED DURING AUTOMATIC LEVELING OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. INSPECTORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE SEPARATION OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET DUE TO SUPERFICIAL AND SPOTTY WELDING. THE MOUNTING BRACKET WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE ROUGH EDGES RESULTING IN POOR CONTACT WITH THE CHASSIS. THE REMAINING JACKS WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN THE SAME CONDITION DUE TO THE IDENTICAL WELDING OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. UPDATED 08/14/06*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS CUT BY THE HYDRAULIC JACK FOR THE LEVELING SYSTEM. ALL THE FLUID RAN OUT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, SO DRIVER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DROVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL IT WAS FOUND BY INSPECTION. APPARENTLY, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE REAR BRAKES, SO THE PEDAL REMAINED NORMAL WHEN APPLIED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE 2002 BEAVER CONTESSA MOTORHOME WITH A 330 CATAPILLAR ENGINE. RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY ALTERNATOR WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A BURNED WIRE IN THE WIRE HARNESS. THE WIRE CONNECTED FROM THE ALTERNATOR I TERMINAL TO THE STARTER RELAY. THE FIRE BURNED SEVERAL OTHER WIRES IN THE HARNESS AND SHORTED THE RADIO AND TWO GAUGES. THE WIRE COMPLETELY BURNED THROUGH BEFORE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS DONE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR JACK ON DRIVER SIDE DETACHED DURING AUTOMATIC LEVELING OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. INSPECTORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE SEPARATION OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET DUE TO SUPERFICIAL AND SPOTTY WELDING. THE MOUNTING BRACKET WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE ROUGH EDGES RESULTING IN POOR CONTACT WITH THE CHASSIS. THE REMAINING JACKS WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN THE SAME CONDITION DUE TO THE IDENTICAL WELDING OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. UPDATED 08/14/06*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING FROM BULLHEAD CITY TO PALM DESERT ... LEFT HWY 10 AND WAS ON OLD ROUTE 66 WHEN FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES WERE 100 DEGREE PLUS AND THIS HAPPENED AROUND NOON. LUCKILY NO INJURY OR CRASH. TIRE BLEW OUT SIDE PANEL AND WADDED UP MUD FLAP. COULD HAVE BEEN BAD ACCIDENT. THIS BLOW OUT WAS ON A 2002 BEAVER PATRIOT THUNDER MOTORHOME W/455 CAT ENGINE .. TWO SLIDE OUT MODEL (GALLEY AND BEDROOM ON DRIVER SIDE). TIRE: TOYO HYPARADIAL 275/70R22.5 ...TIRES WERE DISPOSED OFF BECAUSE AT TIME COULDN'T FIND ANY RECALL INFO ON THEM...HAVE SINCE FOUND RECALLS BY COUNTRY COACH AND NATIONAL RV FOR INCIDENTS OF FRONT BLOW OUT WITH THIS TYPE TIRE DUE TO WEIGHT PROBLEM I BELIEVE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .