Thor Motor Coach is recalling certain 2013 Thor Ace, Daybreak

Oct 09, 2018 — Recall Campaign #18V705000

Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2013 Thor Ace, Daybreak, Challenger, Windsport, Hurricane, Outlaw, Tuscany, and Palazzo motorhomes. The windshield wiper system may have been incorrectly installed, causing the wipers to fail during use, reducing driver visibility.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 2,854 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

18V705000

Manufacturer:	Thor Motor Coach
Recall date:	October 09, 2018
NHTSA Campaign #:	18V705000
Units affected:	2,854

Description:: Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2013 Thor Ace, Daybreak, Challenger, Windsport, Hurricane, Outlaw, Tuscany, and Palazzo motorhomes. The windshield wiper system may have been incorrectly installed, causing the wipers to fail during use, reducing driver visibility.
Consequeces:: A reduction of driver visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective action:: TMC will notify owners, and dealers will verify that the windshield wiper system is installed correctly, repairing or replacing the wiper system as needed, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000161.
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:

2013 THOR MOTOR COACH ACE Complaints
I WAS DRIVING ON 8E FREEWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE INTERIOR OF THE MOTORHOME FILLING WITH BLACK SMOKE AND THE SMOKE DETECTOR STARTED GOING OFF. BLACK SMOKE WAS POURING OFF THE BACK OF THE MOTORHOME AS WELL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND GOT MY WIFE TWO GRANDKIDS AND TWO DOGS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING I FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON FIRE AS WELL AS FIRE DRIPPING FROM THE EXHAUST TO THE GROUND. AFTER GETTING THE FIRE OUT, I DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE LEVELING SYSTEM HAD A HYDRAULIC LINE FAILURE AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS SPRAYING FLUID FROM THE FAILED LINE ON THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE LEVELING SYSTEM IS USED FOR LEVELING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IT SHOULD NOT COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I ALSO FOUND OUT THE FIRE DESTROYED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE AND THE MOTORHOME LOST ALL THE BRAKES ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP.;
2013 THOR MOTOR COACH CHALLENGER Complaints
I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT THIS RV. IT WILL GO PAST THE WINDSHIELD, AND NOT COME BACK UP. I HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR IT, BUT IT WORKS ITSELF LOOSE. THIS IS ALMOST ANY TIME I USE THE WIPERS. I HAVE TO READJUST THEM.;
2013 THOR MOTOR COACH DAYBREAK Complaints
DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WHERE THE SLIDING BOLT BREAKS DUE TO METAL FATIGUE OR OTHER REASON. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND CREATED A NEW LOCK, THAT HAS THE SAME DEFECT, ACCORDING TO OTHER CONSUMERS. WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE LOCK TO REPAIR THE ASSEMBLY. I WAS ABLE TO DRILL OUT THE LOCK AND REMOVE THE DEADBOLT, WHICH THEN ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND ORDER A REPLACEMENT, WHICH I NOW FEAR WILL SUFFER THE SAME ISSUE. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN THE RV ALONE, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFIED. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN EMERGENCY EXIT, SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLIMB DOWN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, AND THE PRIMARY DOOR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO 'BOLT SHUT' IN CASE OF FAILURE. THE BREAK OCCURRED DURING NORMAL USE, AS HAVE MOST OTHER CONSUMERS REPORTED PROBLEMS (LOOK AT AMAZON FOR EXAMPLES). TRIMARK SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL LOCKS, OR AT LEAST ANY CONSUMERS THAT HAVE INCURRED THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER BECOME TRAPPED IN A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF KNOWN METAL FATIGUE PROBLEMS. SEE HTTPS://WWW.AMAZON.COM/GP/PRODUCT/B00HE7SLF8?PF_RD_R=2N3KX8TE2QPQBM9207DF&PF_RD_P=EDABA0EE-C2FE-4124-9F5D-B31D6B1BFBEE FOR HISTORY. OF COURSE USERS ARE HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT REPLACEMENT..... UNTIL IT BREAKS (READ COMMENTS);
2013 THOR MOTOR COACH HURRICANE Complaints
MY WIPER BLADES MOTOR WHEN OFF THE WINDSHIELD SEVERAL TIMES AS WE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 71, WHICH I HAD TO GET OUT AND RESET THEM. THIS WAS DURING THE A HUGE DOWNPOUR THIS WEEKEND IN THE KENTUCKY OFF OF INTERSTATE 71. A SEVERE ALERT WAS TEXT OUT LATER THAT NIGHT, SATURDAY MARCH 30, 2019. I WORK MYSELF TO AN EXIT WHERE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE, I DAMAGE THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY UNIT, HITTING A BLACK POLE AT THE PUMP I WAS PULLING IN, BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE RV. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO PICTURES TO THE FILE SHOW HOW THE WIPERS END UP AS WE TURN AROUND AND DROVE BACK HOME. I CONTACTED ROAD SIDE SERVICE (COST $300.00) BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE LACK OF PARTS FOR THE WIPER MOTOR. WE HAVE OWNED THIS UNIT FOR SIX YEARS, IF THIS WAS SUCH AN ISSUE THEY SHOULD HAVE ISSUE A NO DRIVE RECALL AND HAD THE DEALER CONTACT US DIRECTLY TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. I EVEN TOOK MY UNIT IN TO DEALER FOR A MINOR SERVICE ISSUE BUT NO ONE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OPEN ISSUES WITH MY UNIT. *TR;