2018 Thor Motor Coach Freedom Elite

IN DECEMBER 2020 WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A 2 WEEK TRIP WHEN I NOTICED EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE UNDER THE MATTRESS OF THE REAR BED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I PULLED THE MATTRESS BACK AND THERE WAS A INCH GAP BETWEEN THE BACK EXTERIOR WALL AND THE BED FRAME. THE GAP WAS COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE GROUND BELOW. SO WE TOOK THE UNIT THE THE LOCAL CAMPING WORLD FOR REPAIR (ASSUMING IT WOULD BE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED) AND IT WAS FOUND THE THE UNIT WAS NEVER PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FRAME AND FASTENING POINTS. THE ENTIRE UNIT HAD SLID BACK OFF THE FRAME MORE THAN 1 INCH. THIS SHIFTING HAS LEFT SEVERAL GAP ALLOWING WATER TO NOT ONLY ENTER THE BACK BED AREA BUT THE ENTIRE BUNK ABOVE THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SEATS. THERE WAS VISIBLE MOLD PRESENT UNDER THE CUSHIONS AS A RESULT OF ALL THE MOISTURE/WATER. THE INTERIOR DOORS/CABINETS, DRAWERS AND REFRIGERATOR WILL NO LONGER CLOSE/OPEN PROPERLY AS THEY ARE NO LONGER ALIGNED. WHEN CAMPING WORLD SENT THE IMAGES AND REQUEST FOR REPAIR, THOR COMPANY DENIED ALL THE REPAIR WORK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 6 HOURS OF LABOR. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR IS > $10,000 AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACT AT CAMPING WORLD CLAIMS IF THEY FIX THE SMALL ISSUES BUT DO NOT ADDRESS THE UNIT NOT BEING SECURED TO THE FRAME IT WILL ALL COME LOOSE. THOR HAS PLACED MY FAMILY AT RISK FOR INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH BY ALLOWING A UNIT TO LEAVE THEIR FACILITY NOT PROPERLY BUILT/SECURED TO THE FRAME AND FASTENING POINTS. I HAVE REQUESTED A THOR REPRESENTATIVE COME TO CAMPING WORLD TO ASSESS THE UNIT AND INITIALLY THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY UNIT FOR 4 MONTHS AS IT SITS WAITING FOR REPAIR. THOR WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUES AND SAY THAT IT "IS OUT OF WARRANTY" AND IRONICALLY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER "WATER DAMAGE".

NHTSA ID

11416443

Incident

Dec 31, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 THOR FREEDOM ELITE 29 FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SLIDER WAS OUT, THE GAS OR HEATER FAILED TO WORK. NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SLIDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE GAS LINE. THE DEALER CAMPING WORLD OF NEW JERSEY (1359 RIVER AVE, LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701 (866)-953-0486) WAS CONTACTED FOR A 2ND DIAGNOSIS TEST TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NO RECALL WAS UNDER THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,630. *DT VIN IS INVALID.*JB

NHTSA ID

11206452

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

4,630 mi

WHILE TRAVELING IN OUR NEW THOR MOTORHOME AT 60 MPH THE BEDROOM SLIDEOUT FULLY EXTENDED ITSELF. WE STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE TWO-LANE HIGHWAY AND RETRACTED THE SLIDE OUT WITH THE BEDROOM TOGGLE SWITCH AND THEN TURNED OFF POWER TO SLIDE OUT. STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND SLIDE OUT AGAIN EXTENDED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO ARRIVED AND DIAGNOSED A BAD SLIDE OUT TOGGLE SWITCH AND REMOVED THE SWITCH. NEXT GAS STOP, SLIDE OUT AGAIN EXTENDED ITSELF AND HIT GAS PUMP (PHOTO ATTACHED). OUR NEW MOTOR HOME WAS RETURNED TO CAMPING WORLD WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE 'BAD' TOGGLE SWITCH. I DISAGREED WITH THEIR DIAGNOSIS - THE INGITION INTERLOCK SHOULD KILL POWER TO THE SILDEOUT CONTROLLER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ' THE TOGGLE SWITCH SHOULD BE DEAD WHILE DRIVING. AND THE SLIDE OUT SHOULD NOT OPERATE WITH THE SWITCH REMOVED. I CALLED THOR MOTORCOACH TECH SERVICES AND THEY AGREE THAT THE TOGGLE SWITCH IS NOT THE PROBLEM ' THE IGNITION INTERLOCK WOULD INDEED KILL POWER TO THE SLIDE OUT CONTROLLER. WE CONTINUE TO USE OUR MOTORHOME BUT, AS A PRACTICE PULL THE FUSE TO THE SLIDE OUT CONTROLLER BEFORE DRIVING. THERE APPEARS TO BE A WIRING DEFECT OR CONTROLLER LOGIC PROBLEM WITHIN THE THOR SLIDE OUT CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS COULD LEAD TO TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES SHOULD A BEDROOM QUEEN SIZE BED FULLY EXTEND ITSELF INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

11138780

Incident

Jul 12, 2018

Mileage

6,700 mi

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

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

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

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.

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

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