2018 Thor Motor Coach Freedom Elite

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body2
000
Electrical System1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
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 › 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
Structure › Body
Filed May 13, 2021IN

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 CAMP

Structure › Body
Filed May 9, 20194,630 milesNJ

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

Electrical System
Filed Oct 6, 20186,700 milesTX

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.

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260100Routine
20250200Routine
20241100Routine
20230100Routine
20222000Routine
20210400Routine
20202710Routine
20190400Routine
2018 — this page3300Routine
20172200Routine
20160200Routine
20150200Routine
20140100Routine
20130100Routine
20120300Routine
20110200Routine
20100100Routine

Compare every Freedom Elite 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 19, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.