RoadVitals

2017 Thor Motor Coach Compass

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 Aug 22, 2023
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 19, 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 2017 Thor Motor Coach Compass, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and driver assistance categories. 2 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

  • Engine240.0%
  • Fuel system240.0%
  • Driver assistance120.0%

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
18V415000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Jun 19, 2018
158 units potentially affected
The defect: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Thor Gemini and Compass recreational vehicles built on a Ford chassis and equipped with a trailer tow module. Water can enter the tow modules and corrode the wiring causing issues such as rapidly flashing turn signals, loss of instrument panel display, an electrical short and possibly the deployment of seatbelt pretensioner.
The risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Turn signal, instrument cluster or seatbelt pretensioner problems can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Ford has notified owners, and Ford dealers will add a drainage hole in the driver's door stepwell and incorporate a fuse into the vehicle's wiring harness, free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2018. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000154.
Thor Motor CoachManufacturer number RC000154View 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

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 22, 2023

While driving at highway speeds (70 mph+/-), my diesel powered vehicle 'derated' (I believe that is the term) for no apparent reason. An engine light came on related to a DEF system malfunction. I can provide the code later. My vehicle instantly went from 70 mph to 15 mph on a crowded interstate, on an inside lane. With some difficulty I managed to make across three lanes to the shoulder and turned off the vehicle. After a quick inspection, finding nothing obvious, I proceeded down the shoulder to a gas station. I tried to top off my DEF tank, but it was full. After an hour the engine light went off and the vehicle drove normal. So I'm back on the highway. I went another hour, the engine light came on and the vehicle derated at highway speed. Same white knuckle lane crossing. This time I went to a truck repair shop, who diagnosed it as an issue with the DEF system. They reset the engine light and the vehicle seem to drive normally again. This time we management to make it home without an additional incident. I went to a local diesel mechanic (Ford refused to honor the warranty) who replaced the DEF pump assembly. I think it was specifically the float arm, or the mechanism that measure DEF tank levels. It cost over $1000. While I have several issues with the situation, the primary one is that a perfectly sound vehicle purposely derating the speed from 70 mph to 15 mph in heavy traffic on an exceptionally hot day. Going across three lanes of interstate traffic decelerating to 15 mph, was more than a little scary. Someone could have easily been killed. And the fact that this system is designed to shut you down over exhaust emissions is insane and dangerous. The easy analogy would be derating a gas vehicle over an oxygen sensor failure. I'm hoping that if enough other people complain about this, the government will fix a problem they created. The craziest thing about this is my DEF pump was actually working.

NHTSA ID
11539995
Incident
Jul 2, 2023
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 27, 2021

When this RV is driven in temperatures above 91 degrees it will suddenly and without warning have a major loss of power. Vehicle will not drive above 55 mph even though it was on cruise at 68 mph. Has been to over 6 Ford dealers in 3 years and no one can find the issue. very dangerous since it has to be on the road for this event to occur.

NHTSA ID
11426606
Incident
Jun 16, 2021

Manufacturer communications

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

RC000218SADealer

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

us. On certain model year 2012– 2018 5-ton Sprinter vehicles that were upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles (“RVs”), one or more of the rear-wheel speed sensors may experience an electrical failure, which potentially could lead to a disablement of the Electronic Stability Control (“ESP”) control unit functions. If ESP control unit functions are disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 2013-2020 Chateau Citation & Four Winds Siesta, 2017-2019 Compass, 2017-2020 Four Winds, Gemini, Quantum, Chateau, & Synergy, and 2018-2020 Freedom Elite motorhomes

RC000218SAOwner

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On certain model year 2012– 2018 5-ton Sprinter vehicles that were upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles (“RVs”), one or more of the rear-wheel speed sensors may experience an electrical failure, which potentially could lead to a disablement of the Electronic Stability Control (“ESP”) control unit functions. If ESP control unit functions are disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 2013-2020 Chateau Citation & Four Winds Siesta, 2017-2019 Compass, 2017-2020 Four Winds, Gemini, Quantum, Chateau, & Synergy, and 2018-2020 Freedom Elite motorhomes

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 Compass by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025000—
2023110—
2022010—
2020040—
2019000—
2018121—
2017Viewing220—
2016020—

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.