RoadVitals

2005 Thor California Wanderer

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.
2
Latest Sep 28, 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 Dec 4, 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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Thor California Wanderer, most frequently naming the electrical 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

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Other / unspecified150.0%

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
06V468000

STRUCTURE

Dec 4, 2006
117 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN CARGO/TRAVEL TRAILERS, OVERLOADING AND INCORRECTLY POSITIONING CARGO IN THE REAR CARGO AREA CAN RESULT IN ALIGHT HITCH WEIGHT AND AFFECT STABILITY.
The risk: DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC TOW VEHICLE AND ITS HITCH EQUIPMENT, A SUFFICIENTLY LIGHT HITCH WEIGHT CAN RESULT IN SWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOO MUCH WEIGHT INCORRECTLY POSITIONED CAN ALSO RESULT IN SEVERE BENDING OF THE A-FRAME ASSEMBLY, FAILURE OF THE COUPLER ASSEMBLY, AND/OR FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAINS. THIS CAN CAUSE A CRASH INVOLVING THE TRAILER AND TOW VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER, TOW VEHICLE AND HITCH EQUIPMENT; INSTALL NEW CARGO LOAD LIMIT LABELS AND PLACARDS IN THE CARGO AREA; FURNISH LOADING LIMIT INFORMATION; REPLACE THE COUPLER AND SAFETY CHAINS; AND REINFORCE THE A-FRAME. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THOR AT 1-888-697-8467. NOTE: THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERSEDES A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 04V243).
THOR CALIFORNIA INC.View 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

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SAFETY BREAKAWAY SAFETY SWITCH LOCATED ON THE FORWARD HITCH OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS BEING COMPROMISED BECAUSE THE CHAIN TO THE STABILIZER UNIT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WIRE THAT CONNECTED TO THE SAFETY BREAKAWAY SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 2005 TRAVEL TRAILER WAS THOR; MODE: WANDERER. THE MODEL NUMBER WAS: 217.*AK

NHTSA ID
10169522
Incident
Sep 28, 2006
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2006

IN CHECKING THE TRAILER CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE, I NOTED BARE WIRE IN THE BREAK-AWAY BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS WAS CAUSED BY PINCHING BETWEEN THE ANTI-SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY AND THE FRAME. THE WIRING WAS ROUTED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. HAD I NOT NOTICED THIS, AND FURTHER FRAYING OF WIRES OCCURRED, THE SAFETY BREAK-AWAY BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD FAIL. THERE HAS THANKFULLY BEEN NO ACCIDENT, BUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, DEALER AND FACTORY ASSUME NO LIABILITY, THOUGH THE WIRING WAS PLACED IN THIS POSITION BEFORE I PURCHASED THE NEW TRAILER. THE WIRING WAS ALSO PAINTED TO MATCH THE FRAMEWORK, THUS WAS LESS NOTICEABLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169514
Incident
Sep 23, 2006

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Thor California Wanderer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006010—
2005Viewing220—
2004120—
2003120—
2002020—
2001120—
2000020—
1999010—
1998010—
1997110—

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.