2013 Thor Motor Coach Challenger

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Electrical System1
000

5 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/Trailer15V745000
Filed Nov 10, 201512,656 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

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.

Risk. Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.

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.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer14V127000
Filed Mar 18, 2014241 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

Defect. Thor Motor Coach (Thor) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Challenger and Tuscany recreational vehicles, and 2014 Tuscany XTE and Palazzo recreational vehicles manufactured March 8, 2013, through August 8, 2013, and equipped with certain Frigidaire KG-series microwave models CFMV152CLB and CFMV154CLS manufactured January 27, 2013, through April 10, 2013 in the serial number range KG30607951 through KG31600670. In the affected vehicles, the microwave may start on its own and begin heating when unattended.

Risk. If the microwave starts on its own and there are contents inside, a fire could result.

Remedy. Thor will notify owners, and dealers will repair the membrane/keypad component, free of charge. The recall began on May 12, 2014. Owners may contact Thor Motor Coach at 1-877-500-1020. Thor's number for this recall is RC000088. Note: Until the microwave has been repaired, owners should not store anything in the microwave while it is unattended.

Equipment13V164000
Filed Apr 25, 2013427 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

Defect. Thor Motor Coach is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Challenger, Four Winds 5000, Hurricane, Chateau, Chateau Sport, and Windsport; model year 2013 Palazzo and Four Winds Siesta and model year 2014 Majestic motorhomes manufactured February 13, 2013, through April 09, 2013. If the awning installation sequence was not completely followed, the awning motor may unknowningly become damaged. A damaged motor may lead to an unfurling of the awning.

Risk. If motor damage occurs, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the motorhome is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Thor Motor Coach will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with a design that is not subject to an out-of-sequence installation error. The recall began during May 2013. Owners may contact Thor at 1-877-855-2867 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 23, 20191,500 milesTX

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.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 12, 20159,450 milesFL

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 S

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2016
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20231000Routine
20222000Routine
20213010Routine
20201100Routine
20191210Routine
20180300Routine
20175500Routine
20167600Routine
20155500Routine
20146600Routine
2013 — this page2500Routine
20120200Routine
20110200Routine
20100100Routine
20090100Routine
20080100Routine
20070100Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
20030100Routine

Compare every Challenger 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.