RoadVitals

2018 Thor Motor Coach Chateau

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.
5
Latest Jan 5, 2022
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 Mar 27, 2019
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Thor Motor Coach Chateau, most frequently naming the electrical, body & structure and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%

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
19V240000

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES; VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR

Mar 27, 2019
110 units potentially affected
The defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2018 Thor Chateau and Four Winds motorhomes and 2019-2020 Magnitude and Omni motorhomes. The backup camera displays may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
The risk: If the monitor displays the image in reverse, the driver may unintentionally turn in the wrong direction, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a harness to install that will prevent the image from inverting, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2019. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000168.
Thor Motor CoachManufacturer number RC000168View on NHTSA.gov
18V741000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:LINES AND FITTINGS

Oct 19, 2018
1,384 units potentially affected
The defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Thor Four Winds, Chateau, and Freedom Elite vehicles. The liquid propane (LP) hose may not have adequate space between the floor and the metal plate on the refrigerator, causing damage to the hose and possibly creating a propane leak.
The risk: A propane leak can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will remove a portion of the refrigerator base plate to provide additional clearance for the LP hose, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000162.
Thor Motor CoachManufacturer number RC000162View 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

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 5, 2022
Fire reported2 injuries reported

The contact owned a 2018 Thor Chateau. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 45 MPH, he saw another vehicle encroaching into his lane head-on from the opposite lane. As her husband began to veer the camper to the right side of the roadway, the other vehicle sideswiped the driver’s side of the camper and the inside of the camper immediately caught on fire. The fire quickly spread throughout the camper as her husband lost complete control of the vehicle. The contact's husband was forced to exit the vehicle through the passenger’s side window. Her husband’s jacket caught on fire and he was forced to roll in the snow to put out the flames. Her husband was taken to the hospital and treated for second-degree burns to his left hand and scalp. The jaws of life had to be used to extract the other driver from his vehicle and he was also taken to the hospital and treated for multiple fractures. The fire department and police department were called to the scene and the fire department extinguished the fire. A fire and police report were filed. The accident had remained under investigation and the exact cause of the fire had yet to be determined. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 12,400.

NHTSA ID
11446337
Incident
Jan 3, 2022
Mileage
12,400 mi
Filed Aug 18, 2020
Fire reported

ON AUGUST 12, 2020, I WAS DRIVING HWY 330 TO BIG BEAR LAKE, CA, WHEN A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED IN MY 2018 THOR CHATEAU. MY WIFE AND I FIRST NOTICED THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. SHE INVESTIGATED THE INTERIOR OF THE RV WHILE I SEARCHED FOR A SAFE TURN-OUT OFF THE HIGHWAY. SHE EVENTUALLY SAW SMOKE FLOWING FROM THE REAR OF THE RV. WITHIN FOUR MINUTES WE WERE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM A PASSENGER-SIDE COMPARTMENT DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST EXIT PIPE. UPON OPENING THE COMPARTMENT IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE EXHAUST EXIT PIPE HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND WAS ALSO BURNING THE CONTENTS OF THE COMPARTMENT. I QUICKLY REMOVED THE REMAINING CONTENTS AND WAS PREPARED TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE SUBSIDED ONCE THE SMOLDERING ITEMS WERE REMOVED. THE EXHAUST EXIT PIPE SITS ABOUT 2 INCHES BELOW THE PLASTIC STORAGE BOX YET THERE IS NOT A HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE. IT WAS CLEARLY THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED AND ALSO OF THE DAMAGED PROPERTY. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE IN 2016 YET THOR IS STILL PRODUCING AND SELLING RVS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AT LEAST UP UNTIL THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF MY PARTICULAR 2018 THOR CHATEAU RV. *DT*JB*DT*AS

NHTSA ID
11350174
Incident
Aug 12, 2020
Mileage
24,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 21, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 THOR CHATEAU RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RV WAS PLACED IN STORAGE FOR THREE MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROPANE TANK LEAKED PROPANE FUEL. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO GANDER RV AND OUTDOORS OF BARTOW LOCATED AT 203 BARTOW 7400 STATE RD 60 EAST, BARTOW, FL 33830 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROPANE LINES WERE SEVERED BY THE REAR SPRING STRAP HANGERS. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11340577
Incident
Jun 9, 2020
Mileage
4,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 15, 2020

PROPANE GAS HOLES WERE CRASHED THE BODY FRAME. CAUSING PROPANE GAS TO EMPTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
11328881
Incident
May 10, 2020
Mileage
9,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 19, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 THOR CHATEAU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION REGARDING THE HIGH POWER ELECTRIC FUNCTIONS RUNNING THROUGH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION UNDER THE REAR OF THE MOBILE HOME, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MAIN POWER WIRE THAT WAS NOT FLOWING CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVERTER, POWER GENERATOR, AND FUEL SYSTEM MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE WIRE AND WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE MOBILE HOME SHOULD BE DRIVEN. THE MOBILE HOME WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.

NHTSA ID
11152412
Incident
Nov 18, 2018
Mileage
1,600 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

RC000210SADealer

STEERING

It has been determined that on certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, the hydraulic power steering return line hoses might detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, which could cause hydraulic fluid to leak, resulting in the loss of power steering assist. If the hydraulic power steering hose detaches, the driver will still have manual steering functionality, but increased steering effort will be needed, particularly at low speeds. Sudden loss of power steering assist as well as the loss of hydraulic steering fluid to the road surface may increase the risk of a crash. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: 2017-2020 Chateau, Chateau Citation, Four Winds, Gemini, Quantum, Siesta, & Synergy; 2018-2019 Compass; 2018-2020 Freedom Elite; 2021 Sanctuary & Tranquility

RC000210SAOwner

STEERING

Model/Model Year to Add: 2017 Chateau 2017-2018 Chateau Citation 2017 Four Winds 2017-2019 Gemini 2017-2019 Quantum 2017-2019 Four Winds Siesta 2017-2019 Synergy 2018 Compass 2018 Freedom Elite 2021 Sanctuary 2021Tranquility PLEASE NOTE- Due to being unaware that chassis recall notifications we provide to TMC Owners and Dealers would need to be submitted at time of release, this communication is a historical filing.

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 Chateau by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026020—
2025020—
2024110—
2023020—
2022020—
2021220—
2020070—
2019030—
2018Viewing550—
2017250—
2016140—
2015230—
2014220—
2013120—
2012030—
2011030—
2010020—
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.