2018 Thor Motor Coach Chateau

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other2
010
Electrical System2
012
Structure › Body1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Interior19V240000
Filed Mar 27, 2019110 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

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.

Risk. If the monitor displays the image in reverse, the driver may unintentionally turn in the wrong direction, increasing the risk of crash.

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.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer › Lpg Systems › Lines and Fittings18V741000
Filed Oct 19, 20181,384 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

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.

Risk. A propane leak can increase the risk of a fire.

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.

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 › Other › Labels17V634000
Filed Oct 9, 2017507 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

Defect. Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Challenger, Axis, Chateau, Four Winds, Hurricane, Miramar, Palazzo, Tuscany, Vegas, Venetian, and Windsport motorhomes. The cargo carrying capacity (CCC) label on these vehicles may indicate an incorrect water capacity for the water heater/fresh water tank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Tires and Rims for Motor vehicles over 10,000lbs."

Risk. If the water capacity information is incorrect and it causes the vehicle to be over loaded, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy. TMC will notify owners and send them corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2017. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000147.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer › Lpg Systems › Lines and Fittings17V522000
Filed Aug 24, 2017860 vehiclesThor Motor Coach

Defect. Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2018 Four Winds, Chateau and Freedom Elite recreational vehicles. The liquid propane (LP) hose may sag and become pinched between the frame and the leaf spring u-bolts, potentially damaging the hose and causing a propane leak.

Risk. A propane fuel leak may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. TMC will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the LP hose routing and install additional P-clamps or relocate the P-clamps to properly secure the hose, free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2017. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC's number for this recall is RC000144.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemFire2 injured
Filed Jan 5, 202212,400 milesNH

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.

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Aug 18, 202024,500 milesCA

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

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 21, 20204,000 milesNY

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 15, 20209,000 milesNY

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

Electrical System
Filed Nov 19, 20181,600 milesAR

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.

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260200Routine
20250200Routine
20241100Routine
20230200Routine
20220200Routine
20212200Routine
20200700Routine
20190300Routine
2018 — this page5520Routine
20172500Routine
20161400Routine
20152300Routine
20142210Routine
20131210Routine
20120300Routine
20110300Routine
20100200Routine
20090100Routine
20080100Routine
20070100Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
20030100Routine

Compare every Chateau 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: Mar 27, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.