Thor Motor Coach is recalling certain 2018 Four Winds

Aug 24, 2017 — Recall Campaign #17V522000

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.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 860 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

17V522000

Manufacturer:	Thor Motor Coach
Recall date:	August 24, 2017
NHTSA Campaign #:	17V522000
Units affected:	860

Description:: 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.
Consequeces:: A propane fuel leak may increase the risk of a fire.
Corrective action:: 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.
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:

2018 THOR MOTOR COACH CHATEAU Complaints
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.;
2018 THOR MOTOR COACH FOUR WINDS Complaints
The contact owns a 2018 Thor Motor Coach Four Winds Motorhome constructed on a 2017 Ford E-350 Chassis and hauling a 17-foot cargo trailer. The contact stated that while traveling to another state in the mountains, the RV suddenly began to buck and lost motive power and stalled on several occasions. The contact was able to pull over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the fuel module needed to be replaced. The RV was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. A mobile RV mechanic determined that the fuel module needed to be replaced. The RV was repaired, but the failure persisted. The RV stalled, leaving the occupants stranded for several hours, but eventually restarted. The RV was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the OEM fuel module needed to be replaced but eventually used an aftermarket fuel module. The RV was towed to another local dealer, Harry Robinson Sallisaw Ford (2300 S Kerr Blvd, Sallisaw, OK 74955) where it was determined that the fuel module, fuel pump, and PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted, and the RV was towed back to the same local dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there was no warranty coverage on the RV for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.;
2018 THOR MOTOR COACH FREEDOM ELITE Complaints
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 CAMPING WORLD TO ASSESS THE UNIT AND INITIALLY THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY UNIT FOR 4 MONTHS AS IT SITS WAITING FOR REPAIR. THOR WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUES AND SAY THAT IT "IS OUT OF WARRANTY" AND IRONICALLY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER "WATER DAMAGE".;