RoadVitals

2003 Thor California Tahoe

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Jul 30, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jun 13, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Thor California Tahoe, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and other / unspecified categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels375.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06V208000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

Jun 13, 2006
64,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAVEL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SUBURBAN AND ATWOOD FURNACES, THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT WILL ALLOW LEAKAGE OF FUMES WHICH CONTAIN COMBUSTION PRODUCTS, INCLUDING A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF POTENTIALLY LETHAL CARBON MONOXIDE GAS.
The risk: FUMES COULD ENTER INTO THE TRAILER AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON INSPECTING THE FURNACE VENT. IF AN OWNER BELIEVES THE VENT IS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, IS NOT SURE HOW TO INSPECT THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT, OR NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT INSTALLATION INSPECTED AND CORRECTED, OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THOR IMMEDIATELY AT 1-877-870-2638 OR VIA THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.THORCA.COM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2006.
THOR CALIFORNIA INC.Manufacturer number 615001View on NHTSA.gov
03V178000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

May 19, 2003
73 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS, THE TAILPIPE USED TO RELEASE THE EXHAUST FROM THE GENERATOR WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. THOR MODIFIED THE TAILPIPE BY PLACING AN EXTENSION ON THE TAILPIPE. AS A RESULT, THE GENERATOR'S EXHAUST MAY BE RELEASED UNDER THE TRAILER AT THE POINT OF THE MODIFICATION.
The risk: THE TAILPIPE EXHAUST NEEDS TO BE RELEASED AWAY FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING TAILPIPE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOR CALIFORNIA AT 1-888-697-8467, EXTENSION 215.
THOR CALIFORNIA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 30, 2006

WE WERE DRIVING TO SPOKANE WASHINGTON FROM PHELAN CALIF. WHEN WE HAD A TIRE TREAD COME OFF PASSENGER FRONT OF DUAL AXLE THORE TRANSPORT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. RIPPING OFF FENDER SKIRT. I PUT SPARE ON AND 28 MILES LATER PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT. TIRES HAD MAYBE 1500 MILES ON THEM. THIS HAPPENED IN REDDING CALI. I WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE CHANCES, SO I BOUGHT FOUR NEW TIRES. THE MAN AT THE TIRE STORE SAID HE COULD NOT VISIBLY SEE THE CAUSE OF THE BLOW OUT OR THE TREAD COMING OFF. TIRES WERE INFLATED TO PROPER PSI. TRAILER WAS NOT OVER LOADED. NO WATER IN WATER TANKS. TIRES ARE COVERED WHEN NOT IN USE. AVERAGE SPEED WAS 55 MPH. I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10163919
Incident
Jul 15, 2006
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 5, 2004

CONTACTED CARLILSE TIRE ON 8/11/04 OPENED CLAIM ON TIRES DELAMINATING. ON 9/5/04 TWO TIRES DID BLOWOUT CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY RV. 10/5/04 RECEIVED FIVE NEW TIRES FROM CARLILSE TIRE. I DO NOT WANT THESE TIRES ON MY RV AND I SEEM TO BE STUCK WITH THEM. ITS GOING TO COST OVER ONE THOSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THESE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. *AK

NHTSA ID
10102174
Incident
Sep 5, 2004
Mileage
1,200 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2004

IN JUNE 2002 I BOUGHT NEW FROM THE FACTORY A THOR TAHOE TRANSPORT 33' FIFTH WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH MERIT ALL COUNTRY RADIALS SIZE, LT235/85R16 E. UP UNTIL THE FAILURE I HAD PUT ABOUT 3000 MILES ON THE TIRES, TYPICALLY TRAVELING ABOUT 150 MILES PER TRIP, ONE WAY. THE VEHICLE IS RATED AT 11400 GVW. I RUN ABOUT 10200 LBS TOTAL WEIGHT. ON AUGUST 14, 2004 I WAS RETURNING FROM A 131 MILE TRIP. AT ABOUT 1:30 P.M. AFTER TRAVELLING ABOUT 100 MILES, WHILE TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH ON I-17, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED NEAR THE TOWN OF NEW RIVER, NORTH OF PHOENIX. THE TIRE HELD AIR BUT THE ENTIRE TREAD PEELED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY AND REPLACE WITH A SPARE BEFORE CONTINUING. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE UNDERBELLY PROTECTIVE BLANKET AND THE SIDE SKIRT OF THE TRAILER. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES AND HAVE THE FAILED TIRE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088300
Incident
Aug 14, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 24, 2004
Crash reported4 injuries reported

2003 THOR TAHOE TRAVEL TRAILER TONGUE/COUPLER FAILED ON FEBRUARY 14, 2004. THE TRAILER HAD LESS THAN 500 MILES ON IT. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM MARJON RV IN RIVERSIDE IN APRIL 2003. THE TRAILER WAS ATTACHED TO OUR 2000 FORD EXCURSION WITH A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED BY MARJON RV. THE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10063813
Incident
Feb 14, 2004
Mileage
500 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Thor California Tahoe by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006820—
2005340—
2004120—
2003Viewing420—
2002120—
2001120—
2000120—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.