What Thor Motor Coach Chateau owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Thor Motor Coach Chateau safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Thor Motor Coach Chateau complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V795000 (ENGINE) on the 2021 Thor Motor Coach; however, when the dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment for the recall repair, the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased recently. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Driving on I-10 on December 12, 2024, the Solar Panel flew off the roof of my 2021 Thor Chateaux 27R and into the ditch. My wife following the RV in our other vehicle saw it happen. Luckily no one was hit by the panel as it could have been deadly serious. Looking at the roof later, I found two brackets (of a total of 4) still intact but missing bolts while the two brackets on the other side were gone with only two small screw holes in the roof. Months before I found one of the brackets loose at the solar panel and secured it. All the other brackets were tight.
While traveling on [XXX] on [XXX] the engine suddenly made a very loud banging noise, and the RV was quickly losing power. I managed to ease over to the shoulder and come to a stop before the engine shutdown. It would not restart. I called roadside assistance and two hours later a tow showed up and took it to a Ford dealership in Quakertown, PA that could service an RV. Their diagnostics confirmed that it suffered a catastrophic engine failure. It is still at the dealership. My wife and I were terrified that an inattentive driver would slam into the car attached to the back of the RV or sideswipe the RV itself as it was only 3ft from the travel lane. There were no warnings of any kind…
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 driverâs 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 passengerâs side window. Her husbandâs jacket caught on fire and he was forced to roll in the snow to put out the flames. Her husband was taken to the ho…
2015 THOR, SK35 Super C Motorhome. Front cap over cab of chassis has defective hardware holding the front nose cap to the rear section of the main coach box. Screws are to small and break after just a few thousand miles. When the cap separates it causes vibrations and leaks to the Ford F 550 chassis.
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ON-THE-HIGHWAY DOUBLE LEFT (DRIVER'S) SIDE REAR-TIRE BLOWOUT. THE MUDFLAP LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TIRES (OSTENSIBLY TO PROTECT THE PROPANE TANK) WAS WORN FROM FRICTION -- CAUSED FROM BEING PRESSED AGAINST THE ROTATING TIRES. THE OME TIRES IN THE FIRST INCIDENT WERE MANUFACTURED BY MICHELIN. THE REPLACEMENT TIRES IN THE SECOND INCIDENT WERE FROM GOODYEAR.
ON AUGUST 12, 2020, I WAS DRIVING HWY 330 TO BIG BEAR LAKE, CA, WHEN A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED IN MY 2018 THOR CHATEAU. MY WIFE AND I FIRST NOTICED THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. SHE INVESTIGATED THE INTERIOR OF THE RV WHILE I SEARCHED FOR A SAFE TURN-OUT OFF THE HIGHWAY. SHE EVENTUALLY SAW SMOKE FLOWING FROM THE REAR OF THE RV. WITHIN FOUR MINUTES WE WERE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM A PASSENGER-SIDE COMPARTMENT DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST EXIT PIPE. UPON OPENING THE COMPARTMENT IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE EXHAUST EXIT PIPE HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND WAS ALSO BURNING THE CONTENTS OF THE COMPARTMENT. I QUICKLY REMOVED THE REMAINING CONTENTS AND WAS PREPARED …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 THOR CHATEAU RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RV WAS PLACED IN STORAGE FOR THREE MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROPANE TANK LEAKED PROPANE FUEL. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO GANDER RV AND OUTDOORS OF BARTOW LOCATED AT 203 BARTOW 7400 STATE RD 60 EAST, BARTOW, FL 33830 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROPANE LINES WERE SEVERED BY THE REAR SPRING STRAP HANGERS. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.*DT*JB
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
It has been discovered that on certain Flame King model SMPC 20.3 Gallon LP tanks, there is a faulty fill valve. This affects certain TMC units built between 6/14/2021 to 8/10/2021.
On certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, the MBUX multimedia system software might not meet specifications. Under very specific conditions, the MBUX multimedia system might not start and the display might remain black, or could reboot unintentionally after 50 seconds of initial startup. Accordingly, the rearview camera image might not be displayed or the display might be interrupted, which could increase a risk of a crash or injury. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 2020 Citation, Siesta, & Synergy; 2020-2022 Delano & Tiburon; 2021-2022 Sanctuary & Tranquility mot
On certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, the MBUX multimedia system software might not meet specifications. Under very specific conditions, the MBUX multimedia system might not start and the display might remain black, or could reboot unintentionally after 50 seconds of initial startup. Accordingly, the rearview camera image might not be displayed or the display might be interrupted, which could increase a risk of a crash or injury. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 2020 Citation, Siesta, & Synergy; 2020-2022 Delano & Tiburon; 2021-2022 Sanctuary & Tranquility mot
MBAG has determined that on certain model year 2019-2020 Sprinter vehicles, the retaining washer on the bolt that connects the brake pedal to its bearing block could come loose. If the retaining washer were to come loose, over time it could detach from the bolt, and in the worst case and with ongoing use of the brake pedal, the bolt might separate from the bearing block on one side. If this were to occur, the brake lamp switch could become continuously activated even when the brake pedal is not pressed. If the brake lamps are continuously illuminated, it would not be possible for followin
MBAG has determined that on certain model year 2019-2020 Sprinter vehicles, the retaining washer on the bolt that connects the brake pedal to its bearing block could come loose. If the retaining washer were to come loose, over time it could detach from the bolt, and in the worst case and with ongoing use of the brake pedal, the bolt might separate from the bearing block on one side. If this were to occur, the brake lamp switch could become continuously activated even when the brake pedal is not pressed. If the brake lamps are continuously illuminated, it would not be possible for followin
During production, the FM antenna was not included on the new 32â Connex Entertainment TVs (TMC Part # 484102). These TVs have a built in radio tuner, and the reception will be poor without the antenna
On certain model year 2012â 2018 5-ton Sprinter vehicles that were upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles (âÂÂRVsâÂÂ), one or more of the rear-wheel speed sensors may experience an electrical failure, which potentially could lead to a disablement of the Electronic Stability Control (âÂÂESPâÂÂ) control unit functions. If ESP control unit functions are disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 2013-2020 Chateau Citation & Four
us. On certain model year 2012â 2018 5-ton Sprinter vehicles that were upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles (âÂÂRVsâÂÂ), one or more of the rear-wheel speed sensors may experience an electrical failure, which potentially could lead to a disablement of the Electronic Stability Control (âÂÂESPâÂÂ) control unit functions. If ESP control unit functions are disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 2013-2020 Chateau Citation &
On your vehicle, it may be possible that the engine cover insulation does not fully extend to the perimeter of the factory engine cover. In addition, vehicles built on a Ford chassis may have higher engine compartment temperatures during certain idle conditions. This may result in elevated temperatures at certain areas of the engine cover surface in the passenger compartment on both driver and passenger sides. Direct and continuous contact with exposed skin at these locations may cause skin irritation and/or a minor burn. This affects the following Thor Motor Coach products: model year 20
Procedure for retrofitting units with an Onan 3.2 kW diesel generator to have hour meter function with Firefly system.
Model/Model Year to Add: 2017 Chateau 2017-2018 Chateau Citation 2017 Four Winds 2017-2019 Gemini 2017-2019 Quantum 2017-2019 Four Winds Siesta 2017-2019 Synergy 2018 Compass 2018 Freedom Elite 2021 Sanctuary 2021Tranquility PLEASE NOTE- Due to being unaware that chassis recall notifications we provide to TMC Owners and Dealers would need to be submitted at time of release, this communication is a historical filing.
It has been determined that on certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, the hydraulic power steering return line hoses might detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, which could cause hydraulic fluid to leak, resulting in the loss of power steering assist. If the hydraulic power steering hose detaches, the driver will still have manual steering functionality, but increased steering effort will be needed, particularly at low speeds. Sudden loss of power steering assist as well as the loss of hydraulic steering fluid to the road surface may increase the risk of
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2024, owners most often name: unknown or other, structure, fuel/propulsion system. 18 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.