2002 Thor Chateau

Routine

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

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer07V127000
Filed Mar 20, 200712,000 vehiclesThor America

Defect. CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Risk. RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. THOR AMERICA WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR THOR AMERICA AT 1-570-837-1663.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer03V384000
Filed Oct 13, 20036,749 vehiclesThor America

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTH WHEELS EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE UNITS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.

Risk. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy. SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAMSUNG AT 800-932-3837 OR THOR AMERICA AT 570-837-5274.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed May 30, 2013OH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 THOR TAHOE TRAVEL TRAILER (NA) EQUIPPED WITH CARLISLE RADIAL TRAIL TIRES, SIZE 205/75/R14. THE DOT NUMBER WAS 9QKCFC5004. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. THE RV WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE HAD EXPLODED. A SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED TEMPORARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE RV AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/31/13*LJ

Tires
Filed Dec 3, 2012TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 THOR MOTOR HOME EQUIPPED WITH RUNWAY ENDURO H/T TIRES, SIZE: 225/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEEL BELT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FRACTURED, CAUSING THE RUBBER AND STEEL TO PEEL AWAY RAPIDLY. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20050100Routine
20040200Routine
20030300Routine
2002 — this page2200Routine
20013200Routine
20000200Routine
19991200Routine
19980100Routine
19970100Routine

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 20, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.