Thor Motor Coach is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Four Winds Hurricane and Windsport

Oct 23, 2015 — Recall Campaign #15V698000

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Four Winds Hurricane and Windsport, 2009-2010 Four Winds Mandalay, 2010 Four Winds Magellan, and 2010-2011 Four Winds Serrano motorhomes manufactured May 2, 2009, to September 1, 2010. The affected vehicles are wired to be powered by a generator and are equipped with an Iota ITS-50R transfer switch that may fail when exposed to elevated electrical loads and used in higher ambient temperatures.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 503 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

15V698000

Manufacturer:	Thor Motor Coach
Recall date:	October 23, 2015
NHTSA Campaign #:	15V698000
Units affected:	503

Description:: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Four Winds Hurricane and Windsport, 2009-2010 Four Winds Mandalay, 2010 Four Winds Magellan, and 2010-2011 Four Winds Serrano motorhomes manufactured May 2, 2009, to September 1, 2010. The affected vehicles are wired to be powered by a generator and are equipped with an Iota ITS-50R transfer switch that may fail when exposed to elevated electrical loads and used in higher ambient temperatures.
Consequeces:: As the transfer switch fails, it may overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Corrective action:: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Iota ITS-50R transfer switch with a transfer switch from another manufacturer, free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Thor customer service at 1-877-855-2867. Thor's number for this recall is RC000106.
Notes:: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Affects the following:

2011 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE Complaints
CLASS A MOTORHOME HAS A 110V AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH (ATS) THAT PROVIDES EITHER SHORE POWER OR ON-BOARD GENERATOR POWER TO THE COACH POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER. THOR INDUSTRIES USED AN IOTA ITS-50R ATS ON THIS AND SEVERAL OTHER MATRON BRANDS WITHIN THEIR BUSINESS. THIS ATS BY IOTA HAS BEEN IMPLICATED IN SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES INCLUDING SMOKE AND SMALL CONTAINED FIRES AND WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA RECALL 12V060000. THE REFERENCED RECALL PERTAINED TO NAVISTAR INC. DBA MONACO RV LLC WHEREIN NAVISTAR REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE ATS WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND SWITCH ON TWELVE DIFFERENT MATRON BRAND NAMES AFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 250 UNITS. THIS IOTA ITS-50R ATS FAILED IN THE SUBJECT MATRON ON 12/25/2013 RESULTING IN SMOKE DAMAGE AND SECONDARY DAMAGE TO WIRING AND OTHER COMPONENTS WHILE THE COACH WAS PLUGGED INTO A PROVEN SHORE POWER SOURCE. THE DANGER/HAZARD IS THAT THE ONBOARD GENERATOR IS USED DURING DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER TO POWER THE COACH AIR CONDITIONERS AND THE ATS COULD (AND APPARENTLY HAS) FAILED CAUSING A FIRE AND ACCIDENT. THERE IS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS ATS BUT TO WHAT EXTENT IS UNKNOWN. THOR INDUSTRIES/THOR MOTORCOACH/FOUR WINDS EITHER DID OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS TECHNICAL ISSUE FROM THEIR INDUSTRY SOURCES. LUCKILY WE WERE PARKED AT THE TIME AND IN CHURCH BUT OUR BELOVED DOGS SUFFERED FROM SOME TEMPORARY SMOKE INHALATION PROBLEMS. IN MY JUDGEMENT THESE ATS UNITS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND BANNED UNTIL A PROVEN REDESIGN IS AVAILABLE.;
2011 FOUR WINDS SERRANO Complaints
WHILE DRIVING IN FLORIDA AFTER PURCHASING THE RV, I RAN INTO A LIGHT RAINSTORM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE IN INTERMITTENT MODE AND STOPPED WORKING AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION. I COULDN'T GET THE WIPERS TO WORK UNLESS I PUT THEM IN "FAST" MODE. AFTER THE RAIN STOPPED WE DROVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND RAN INTO ANOTHER RAIN SHOWER. THE WIPERS STARTED WORKING AGAIN IN INTERMITTENT MODE WHEN WE RAN INTO ANOTHER RAIN SHOWER. WITHIN TWO OR THREE MINUTES, THEY STOPPED WORKING EXCEPT IN "FAST" MODE. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT A CAMPING WORLD SERVICE CENTER SAID HE HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND BELIEVED WATER WAS LEAKING IN AROUND THE WIPER MOUNTING POINT ON THE COACH AND CAUSING A SHORT IN THE MOTOR MECHANISM. *TR;