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2013 Thor Motor Coach Challenger

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 Dec 23, 2019
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.
5
Latest Oct 9, 2018
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 2013 Thor Motor Coach Challenger, most frequently naming the electrical, exterior lighting and visibility categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Exterior lighting133.3%
  • Visibility133.3%

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

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

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
18V705000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Oct 9, 2018
2,854 units potentially affected
The defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2013 Thor Ace, Daybreak, Challenger, Windsport, Hurricane, Outlaw, Tuscany, and Palazzo motorhomes. The windshield wiper system may have been incorrectly installed, causing the wipers to fail during use, reducing driver visibility.
The risk: A reduction of driver visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will verify that the windshield wiper system is installed correctly, repairing or replacing the wiper system as needed, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000161.
Thor Motor CoachManufacturer number RC000161View on NHTSA.gov
17V758000

EQUIPMENT

Nov 22, 2017
110,400 units potentially affected
The 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 assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: 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.
Thor Motor CoachView on NHTSA.gov
15V745000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Nov 10, 2015
12,656 units potentially affected
The defect: Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Thor Challenger, Thor Citation, Thor Hurricane, Thor Tuscany, Thor Windsport, 2011-2012 Thor Astoria, Thor Avanti, Thor Chateau, 2011-2014 Thor Daybreak, 2011-2015 Thor Outlaw, Thor Siesta, 2014-2015 Thor Miramar, 2012 Thor Four Winds, 2008-2011 Damon Astoria, Damon Daybreak, Damon Outlaw, Damon Tuscany, 2008-2012, Damon Challenger, 2008-2010 Damon Essence, 2009-2011 Damon Avanti, Four Winds Chateau, Four Winds Citation, Four Winds Four Winds, Four Winds Hurricane, Four Winds Siesta, Four Winds Windsport, 2009-2010 Four Winds Dorado, Four Winds Dutchmen, Four Winds Magellan, Four Winds Mandalay and 2009 Four Winds Fun Mover, and Four Winds Presidio motorhomes. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain Lippert-brand Coachstep Double and Triple Electric Steps. These steps use a bolt to attach the fan gear assembly to the steps. This bolt may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may be unstable.
The risk: Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Thor will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer bracket to reinforce the operating mechanism and replace all of the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Thor customer service at 1-877-855-2867. Thor's number for this recall is RC000111.
Thor Motor CoachManufacturer number RC000111View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Dec 23, 2019

I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT THIS RV. IT WILL GO PAST THE WINDSHIELD, AND NOT COME BACK UP. I HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR IT, BUT IT WORKS ITSELF LOOSE. THIS IS ALMOST ANY TIME I USE THE WIPERS. I HAVE TO READJUST THEM.

NHTSA ID
11290953
Incident
Feb 8, 2014
Mileage
1,500 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 12, 2015

I WISH TO REPORT A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD TO 2013 THOR CHALLENGER MODEL 37KT MOTOR HOMES. MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 THOR CHALLENGER MODEL 37KT MOTOR HOME IN JUNE, 2012. THE UNIT DID NOT COME WITH LED LIGHTING. I WISH TO STATE THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE FULLTIME RV'ERS. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015, MY WIFE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE DOING PAPERWORK. THE LIGHT FIXTURE ABOVE THE TABLE HAD BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL HOURS. WE DISCOVERED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC AND FOUND THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE LIGHT FIXTURE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE GLOBES OF THIS FIXTURE WERE EXTREMELY HOT AND STARTING TO MELT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE GLOBE. ONE OF THE PLASTIC RINGS THAT HELD A BULB HAD DISCOLORED AND MELTED. THE BULBS HAVE SINCE BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH LED BULBS. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT INVOLVING DEFECTIVE WIRING IN OUR RV. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2013. IN LATE 2013 I STARTED DETECTING A SLIGHT ODOR OF OZONE OR SOMETHING THAT SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNING PLASTIC. I WOULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE. AFTERWARDS, WE STARTED HAVING THE KITCHEN/DINING ROOM CEILING LIGHTS TO FLICKER. THEY FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I CONTACTED THOR MOTOR COACH TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. A RV REPAIR SERVICEMAN DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LOCATED UNDER THE BED IN THE ELECTRIC PANEL HOUSING THE FUSES. A WIRE CONNECTOR FOR THE CEILING WIRING HAD MELTED. THE REPAIRMAN ADVISED THAT THE WIRING USED WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS ON THIS CIRCUIT. HE RECOMMENDED SWITCHING TO LED LIGHTING. IN NOVEMBER OF 2014 I HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHT FIXTURE ABOVE THE KITCHEN SINK BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL LIGHT BULB HAD GENERATED SO MUCH HEAT THAT IT MELTED THE LENS OF THE FIXTURE AND THEN QUIT WORKING ENTIRELY. I HAVE KEPT MOST OF THE COMPONENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682941
Incident
Dec 16, 2013
Mileage
9,450 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LTR 120519

EQUIPMENT

This letter stated that there were no Service Bulletins or Technical Service Bulletins issued for the month of November, 2019.

LTR 110317

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This letter stated that there was one (1) Service Notification issued for the month of October, 2017.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Thor Motor Coach Challenger by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023101—
2022201—
2021301—
2020110—
2019120—
2018030—
2017551—
2016760—
2015551—
2014661—
2013Viewing250—
2012020—
2011020—
2010010—
2009010—
2008010—
2007010—
2006010—
2005010—
2004010—
2003010—

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.