2013 Thor Motor Coach Ace

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
010
Service Brakes1
010
Fuel System, Gasoline1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer18V705000
Filed Oct 9, 20182,854 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

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.

Risk. A reduction of driver visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

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.

Equipment17V758000
Filed Nov 22, 2017110,400 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

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

Risk. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

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.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer16V571000
Filed Aug 2, 20165,633 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

Defect. Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling certain model year 2012-2017 Ace, 2013 Citation, 2012-2013 Siesta and 2017 Four Winds and Road Bear Rental motorhomes. The affected vehicles are equipped with shower curtains that may not adequately resist catching fire in the presence of an ignition source. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 302, "Flammability of Interior Materials."

Risk. A flammable shower curtain may further fuel a fire, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Thor will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shower curtains with curtains made with fire retardant, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2016. Owners may contact Thor customer service at 1-877-500-1020. Thor's number for this recall is RC000121.

Electrical System13V265000
Filed Jun 25, 20137,593 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

Defect. Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 Windsport, model year 2006-2010 Magellan, model year 2007-2013 Hurricane, model year 2009-2013 Serrano and model year 2011-2013 A.C.E motorhomes. The motorhomes are equipped with an RV Custom Products Battery Control Center (BCC) which may experience a failure while the motorhome is in motion.

Risk. If the BCC fails, all power may be lost to the motorhome chassis, including all lighting, making the vehicle very difficult to operate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Thor will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the BCC free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2013. Customers may contact Thor at 1-877-855-2867. Thor's recall campaign number is RC000077.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service BrakesFire
Filed Jul 31, 20133,800 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING A 2013 THOR ACE MOTOR HOME AT 60 MPH I HEARD BEEPING NOISE IN THE DRIVERS AREA. WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE I DISCOVERED THE MOTOR HOME WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT. THE LEVELING SYSTEM HAD TURNED ON THE HYDRAULIC PUMP AND ONE OF THE RETURN LINES WAS LEAKING. THE RESULTING HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS SPRAYING ON THE EXHAUST AND IGNITING. THE LEVELING SYSTEM IS USED FOR LEVELING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. APPARENTLY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF IT DETECTS ONE OF THE JACKS LOWERING WHILE DRIVING IT APPLIES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE SYSTEM TO KEEP THE JACK UP, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A HYDRAULIC LEAK ON THE RETURN SIDE OF A JACK, THE SYSTEM SENDS HYDRAULIC FLUID TO A LEAKING LINE AND IN MY CASE IT STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE MOTOR HOME CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME INCLUDING CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO LEAK AND LOSING THE BRAKES TO THE MOTOR HOME AS WELL. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicFire
Filed Jul 31, 20133,318 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING ON 8E FREEWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE INTERIOR OF THE MOTORHOME FILLING WITH BLACK SMOKE AND THE SMOKE DETECTOR STARTED GOING OFF. BLACK SMOKE WAS POURING OFF THE BACK OF THE MOTORHOME AS WELL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND GOT MY WIFE TWO GRANDKIDS AND TWO DOGS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING I FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON FIRE AS WELL AS FIRE DRIPPING FROM THE EXHAUST TO THE GROUND. AFTER GETTING THE FIRE OUT, I DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE LEVELING SYSTEM HAD A HYDRAULIC LINE FAILURE AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS SPRAYING FLUID FROM THE FAILED LINE ON THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE LEVELING SYSTEM IS USED FOR LEVELING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IT SHOULD NOT COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I ALSO FOUND OUT THE FIRE DESTROYED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE AND THE MOTORHOME LOST ALL THE BRAKES ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 27, 2013AZ

I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT RUNNING GAS LINES INTO AND THEN OUT OF AN OIL COOLER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT OF THE RADIATOR AT THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. ANY FRONT END COLLISION COULD CAUSE THESE NEW LINES AND OR THE OIL COOLER TO BREAK CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. I AM ATTACHING TWO PICTURES IN THE FIRST YOU CAN SEE THE OIL COOLER ATTACHED TO THE RADIATOR THROUGH THE FRONT GRILL OF THE VEHICLE, THE SECOND SHOWS A CLOSER VIEW OF THE OIL COOLER. THERE IS A THREAD WHICH HAS MORE PICTURES AND SOME OF THE OWNER'S REMARKS AS TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THEIR VEHICLES ON THE IRV2.COM FORUM. THIS IS A LINK TO THAT THREAD: HTTP://WWW.IRV2.COM/FORUMS/F121/ACE-GENERATOR-STOPS-RUNNING-CODE-36-A-125555.HTML AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. UPDATED 7/31/13 *CN

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2016
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20231000Routine
20223100Routine
20213100Routine
20200100Routine
20192000Routine
20185300Routine
20173400Routine
20167500Routine
20155410Routine
20143400Routine
2013 — this page3420Routine
20121300Routine
20111210Routine

Compare every Ace year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 9, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.