THOR MOTOR COACH Complaints

I PURCHASED A 2014 THOR CHATEAU (28Z) MOTOR COACH IN OCT 2013. IT HAS HAD THREE ELECTRICAL/FIRE ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FOR THE SAFETY OF OWNERS OF THOR COACHES. 1. IN JUNE 2014 THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER SWITCH LOCATED UNDER THE REAR BED COMPARTMENT BEGAN SMOKING AT 2AM IN THE MORNING. THE WIRE NUT CONNECTING THE SOLID COPPER WIRE (EXTERNAL POWER) TO THE MULTI-STRAND LINE TO THE FUSE BOX HAD MELTED AND WAS GLOWING RED/SMOKING. THE HEAT FROM THE POOR CONNECTION CAUSED THE TOP OF THE SWITCH BOX TO DEFORM AND CRACK. 2. IN DEC 2014 THE ELECTRICAL WIRE NUT CONNECTING THE POWER TO THE WATER HEATER SIMILARLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED, BUT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THE OUTER CASE MELTED. 3. WHEN INSPECTING THE BOTTOM OF THE RV FOR RUST IN JUNE 2016, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SENSOR WIRE FOR THE PROPANE TANK GAS LEVEL WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED. THE WIRE WAS DRAPED OVER THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE OUTER PLASTIC COVER WAS FRAYED BY THE DRIVESHAFT AND MELTED BY THE EXHAUST PIPE. THIS COULD HAVE CREATED A "BURNING FUSE" LEADING TO THE LP GAS TANK. ANY ONE OF THESE DEFECTS COULD HAVE CAUSED MY DEATH BY FIRE IN THE COACH. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR ALL THREE INCIDENTS: #1 & 2 IN RV PARKS, AND #3 WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE AN AUTO PARTS STORE - AFTER/BETWEEN HIGHWAY TRANSITS. I HAVE RETAINED THE PHYSICAL ARTIFACTS FROM THESE EVENTS AND ADDITIONAL PICTURES THAN THOSE BELOW - SHOWING THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THOR'S MALPRACTICE IN MANUFACTURING. WHAT I REQUEST: 1. NOTIFICATION TO THOR MOTOR COACH OWNERS OF THESE KNOWN ELECTRICAL WIRING DEFECTS. 2. IMPROVED ELECTRICAL STANDARDS IN THE PRODUCTION OF THOR PRODUCTS - WIRE NUTS SHOULD BE TAPED TO PREVENT VIBRATING LOOSE. - UNDER CARRIAGE WIRING IS SUBSTANDARD / HAZARDOUS.

PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SLAMS DOWN UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER CAUSING ALL WIPER ACTION TO CEASE DURING RAINSTORMS. CREATES A DEADLY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AN 11 TON UNIT DOWN THE ROAD.. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SYSTEM - TOO THIN OF A MOUNTING PLATE FOR THE WIPER MOTOR ALLOWING TOO MUCH FLEX WHICH ALLOWS WIPER LINKAGE FROM MOTOR TO ARMS HANG UP ON MOTOR MOUNTING BOLTS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WHICH SAY THEY FIXED IT. THEY DIDN'T.

PASSENGER WIPER COMES LOOSE AT SPLINE AND FALLS BELOW WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN TRAVELING AND WIPERS ARE IN USE.

I HAVE COMPLIED WITH SAFETY RECALL 15V-530, SAFETY ADVISORY RC000103. THE PROBLEM REMAINS, NO CHANGE, I CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT AIR FLOW IS TO THE FLOOR REGARDLESS OF THE AIR FLOW CONTROL SETTING. AS STATED IN THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE AIR FLOW CONTROL UNIT WHICH DOES NOT PERMIT AIR FLOW TO THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS. TMC'S "FIX" IS TO PREVENT THE SPIKE WHICH DISABLES THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL UNIT, HOWEVER, THE DEFECTIVE UNIT REMAINS. IN MY CASE, THE UNIT IS ALREADY LOCKED AND I CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE CURRENT REMEDY HAS NO IMPACT ON VEHICLES WHOSE DEFECTIVE AIR FLOW UNIT IS ALREADY LOCKED. THE CURRENT REMEDY LEAVES THE DEFECTIVE UNIT IN THE VEHICLE AND IN MY CASE DOES NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION BY WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR.

ONAN GENERATOR STOP AFTER OPERATING FOR 1 OR 2 HOURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. GENERATOR REPORTS ERROR CODE 36, APPARENTLY OVERHEATING IS THE REASON. THOR AND ONAN ARE POINTING AT EACH OTHER AS TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. ONAN GENERATOR IS RATED TO OPERATE UP TO 120F, BUT FAILS WHEN TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS BELOW 100 AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN SOME COOLING EFFECT TO COUNTER THE EFFECT OF THE HOT ROAD SURFACE AND RV ENGINE HEAT. INTERIOR OF RV, SPECIALLY IN LONGER UNITS CAN NOT MAINTAIN A SAFE TEMPERATURE FOR PASSENGERS WITH ONLY THE ENGINE A/C UNIT. GENERATOR RUNS FINE FOR 24 HOURS IN 100+ DEGREE WEATHER WHEN THE RV IS STATIONARY AND THE GENERATOR IS RUNNING ON FULL LOAD (2 ROOF MOUNTED A/C UNITS). AFTER A 1 HOUR STOP AT A REST AREA WITH RV ENGINE RUNNING STILL TO KEEP RV A/C ON, THE GENERATOR WILL START UP AGAIN AND WILL WORK FINE UNTIL YOU START DRIVING AGAIN, WITH-IN 30 MINUTES IT WILL SHUT DOWN AGAIN. MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH ONAN SUGGESTING YOU REMOVE THE DOOR OF THE GENERATOR COMPARTMENT, WHICH ITSELF MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD. RV MANUFACTURERS CLAIM THEY ARE INSTALLING THE UNIT ACCORDING TO ONAN'S SPECS. SOME RV OWNERS SUGGEST ONAN IS AVOIDING A RECALL BY PROPOSING SOLUTIONS LIKE NO COMPARTMENT DOOR TO RV OWNERS.

THICK HARD PLASTIC PANELS IN FRONT WHEELS ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRES RESULTING IN TIRE WEAR AND CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD OF POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE. PICTURES ATTACHED.

WE PICKED UP OUR NEW RV MOTORHOME FROM OUR DEALER TWO WEEKS AGO AND PARKED IT BEHIND OUR HOUSE, A DISTANCE OF APPROX. 25 MILES. LAST WEEK WE BEGAN TO LOAD IT WITH SOME CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES SO WE COULD TAKE IT OUT ON A TEST RIDE IN A FEW WEEKS. WHILE DOING A CAREFUL CHECK OF THE RV I FOUND THAT THE POWER OUTPUT CABLE OF THE RV'S GENERATOR WAS LAYING DIRECTLY ON THE GENERATOR'S EXHAUST PIPE AND HAD MELTED OVER 3/4 THROUGH. WHEN I LIFTED THE CABLE OFF THE PIPE I COULD SEE HOW BADLY DAMAGED THE PROTECTIVE CABLE WAS AND EXPECTED THE INSULATION ON THE 30 AMP POWER WIRES MUST ALSO BE MELTED. IF THE GENERATOR HAD BEEN TURNED ON I BELIEVE, AT THE LEAST, IT WOULD HAVE STARTED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. WITH THE GASOLINE FUEL LINE AND THE PROPANE FUEL LINE FOR THE HOT WATER HEATER SO CLOSE BY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. WHEN WE PICKED UP THIS RV THE GENERATOR HAD APPROX 60 HOURS OF RUN HOURS AND WE ONLY RAN IT A FEW MORE HOURS WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT HOME. WHEN I FOUND THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION I TRIED TO CALL THE DEALER BUT IT WAS LATE AND THEY WERE CLOSED SO I CALLED THOR MOTOR COACH AND REPORTED THIS TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FIRST THING NEXT MORNING I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THIS CONDITION, SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS, AND DROVE THE RV BACK TO THE DEALER, WITHOUT, OF COURSE, STARTING THE GENERATOR. I LEFT THEM A WRITEUP OF THIS CONDITION, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER RELATIVELY MINOR ISSUES, PLUS THE PHOTOS. I ALSO SENT THOR THESE PHOTOS. TO DATE I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM EITHER THOR OR THE DEALER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 THOR HURRICANE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHEER PIN FELL OUT AND ONE OF THE STEPS WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHEER PIN DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEP TO BECOME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUFFERED A TWISTED ANKLE AND WRIST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING AND THE FITTINGS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE REAR LADDER WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE LADDER WAS NOT PROPERLY MOUNTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE LADDER FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO TEAR HIS ROTATOR CUFF AND SUFFER BROKEN TEETH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE'S OVERHEAD BUNK COULD NOT BE PROPERLY LATCHED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SCHWINTEK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MAIN SLIDE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND INTERMITTENTLY AND FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN SLIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

SINCE MY ORIGINAL PURCHASE I HAVE HAD FOUR OCCURRENCES WHERE MY WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN MID STROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN A STEADY RAIN. FAILURES OCCURRED AFTER THE WIPERS FUNCTIONED FOR OVER ONE HOUR AND ONLY WHEN OPERATING IN CONTINUOUS MODE. I WAS ASSURED BY THOR ON THE THREE PREVIOUS FAILURES THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED AND I WOULD NO LONGER HAVE ANY ISSUES. ON 1/3/2016 THE WIPER ONCE AGAIN FAILED WITH THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AND THOR WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY BECAUSE THEY SAY THE UNIT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY NOW. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE PURCHASE WITH THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON CONTINUOUS MODE FOR PERIODS GREATER THAN ONE HOUR.

THE MOTORHOME HAS GOODYEAR 275/70R22.5 G670 RV TIRES ON IT.I HAD A DOUBLE BLOW OUT ON THE REAR WITH THE TREAD COMING OFF BOTH TIRES.THE TIRES HAD NEW TREAD WITH 12000 MILES ON THEM.THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT FOR THE WEIGHT AND A MONITORING SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED.WEATHER WAS UNDER 70 DEGREES SPEED ABOUT 60.GOODYEAR SAID THEY WOULD WARRANTY THEM BUT DIDN'T.MY CONCERN IS I HAVE 4 OTHER TIRES THE SAME ON THE MOTORHOME.I NEED TO FIND OUT WHY.CAN YOU DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE WITH THE EXPERTISE TO INSPECT THE TIRES.THANK YOU [XXX] I HAVE PICTURES ON CELL PHONE AND RECEIPTS I CAN SEND INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR