The defect
Thor Motor Coach is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Challenger, Four Winds 5000, Hurricane, Chateau, Chateau Sport, and Windsport; model year 2013 Palazzo and Four Winds Siesta and model year 2014 Majestic motorhomes manufactured February 13, 2013, through April 09, 2013. If the awning installation sequence was not completely followed, the awning motor may unknowningly become damaged. A damaged motor may lead to an unfurling of the awning.
The risk
If motor damage occurs, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the motorhome is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
The remedy
Thor Motor Coach will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with a design that is not subject to an out-of-sequence installation error. The recall began during May 2013. Owners may contact Thor at 1-877-855-2867 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thor Motor Coach Challenger | 2013, 2014 |
| Thor Motor Coach Chateau | 2013, 2014 |
| Thor Motor Coach Chateau Sport | 2013, 2014 |
| Thor Motor Coach Four Winds 5000 | 2013, 2014 |
| Thor Motor Coach Four Winds Siesta | 2013 |
| Thor Motor Coach Hurricane | 2013, 2014 |
| Thor Motor Coach Majestic | 2014 |
| Thor Motor Coach Palazzo | 2013 |
| Thor Motor Coach Windsport | 2013, 2014 |
Components: EQUIPMENT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thor Motor Coach Challenger | 2013 | 2 | 5 |
| Thor Motor Coach Challenger | 2014 | 6 | 6 |
| Thor Motor Coach Chateau | 2013 | 1 | 2 |
| Thor Motor Coach Chateau | 2014 | 2 | 2 |
| Thor Motor Coach Chateau Sport | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Thor Motor Coach Chateau Sport | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| Thor Motor Coach Four Winds 5000 | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Thor Motor Coach Four Winds 5000 | 2014 | 2 | 1 |
| Thor Motor Coach Four Winds Siesta | 2013 | 0 | 2 |
| Thor Motor Coach Hurricane | 2013 | 7 | 5 |
| Thor Motor Coach Hurricane | 2014 | 4 | 6 |
| Thor Motor Coach Majestic | 2014 | 0 | 2 |
| Thor Motor Coach Palazzo | 2013 | 8 | 4 |
| Thor Motor Coach Windsport | 2013 | 0 | 5 |
| Thor Motor Coach Windsport | 2014 | 2 | 6 |
Other equipment recalls in 2013
135 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the equipment; Thor Motor Coach filed 124 campaigns in all.
| 13V645000 24 Dec 2013 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 13V654000 20 Dec 2013 | Starcraft RV, Inc. |
| 13V638000 19 Dec 2013 | Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. |
| 13V636000 18 Dec 2013 | Altec Industries Inc. |
| 13V623000 16 Dec 2013 | Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc. |
| 13V609000 3 Dec 2013 | Starcraft RV, Inc. |
| 13V593000 25 Nov 2013 | PACCAR Incorporated |
| 13V565000 13 Nov 2013 | Sutphen Corporation |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013