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Old 12-05-2016, 02:39 PM   #1
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37KT
State: Texas
Posts: 235
THOR #1183
Thor recall in the works?

NHTSA is looking into problem with windshield wipers and has contacted a forum member at iRV2 Forums
Since I had the same problem I did a forum search here and on irv2.com and found over 24 reports with identical problem description - passenger side wiper arm rotating to far and in the worst case wedging under drivers side freezing it. End result - both wipers out of commission resulting in a dangerous life safety situation. Several owners reported same failure on replacement wiper assembly and I found one owner reporting failure of original and two replacements. So it looks like Thor is continuing to use bad stock and not really fixing the problem.
So far there are several Thor products with the same problem: Challenger, Outlaw, Hurricane, Windsport and Miramar spanning product years 2013 to 2016.
If you had the problem described above or any other serious windshield wiper problem - please call or write Larry Long - your life may depend on it.

Larry Long
Safety Defects Investigator
Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles Division
Office of Defects Investigation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NEF-140, Rm W48-214
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE.
Washington DC 20590
202-366-6281
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Old 09-19-2017, 03:21 PM   #2
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THOR #1183
One more time!
Larry Long
Safety Defects Investigator
Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles Division
Office of Defects Investigation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NEF-140, Rm W48-214
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE.
Washington DC 20590
202-366-6281
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Old 09-19-2017, 04:36 PM   #3
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Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
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THOR #7035
You know they already issued a wiper recall?
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Old 09-19-2017, 06:08 PM   #4
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THOR #1183
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tfryman View Post
You know they already issued a wiper recall?
Yes I know. We were simply screwed by THOR. There were two distinct major problems. 1. Wiper arm connection to drive shaft on the outside. 2. Wiper motor drive assembly in engine compartment. Thor took #1 and did a cheap to fix recall - tighten two nuts on the outside and ignored the far more expensive complete wiper assembly replacement.
If you don't do the current recall and have the #2 problem they have grounds to say NO. If you do the recall and have failure #2 the only hope is enough owners continue to file with NHTSA.
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Old 09-24-2017, 04:24 AM   #5
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THOR #6924
I bought my 2015 Outlaw used and when I contacted Thor to update the owner info they commented on the windshield wiper recall and the Entry Steps Shoulder Bolt Recall. I took my coach into the dealer and both issues were taken care of, no charge to me.
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Old 09-24-2017, 10:54 AM   #6
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Model: Hurricane 34J
State: Arkansas
Posts: 97
THOR #5647
Wiper Problem Still Around in 2017 Model

I have a 2017 Hurricane 34J and it has the same problem so it's not limited to the years listed above. I called Thor and they gave me an authorization number to have the entire wiper assembly replaced under warranty. I'm in the process of getting it scheduled. I hope it will not still be an issue once it's installed. I'll update this tread with the results as soon as I have them.
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Old 09-24-2017, 12:39 PM   #7
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Model: Challenger LX
State: Colorado
Posts: 122
THOR #3922
Wipers

I took this picture of the wiper assembly on my 2016 Challenger LX. As you can see, part of the assembly is not aligned correctly. When the motor operated the nut was hitting that rivet just below the nut, causing the failure many of you are familiar with. My dealer replaced the wiper assembly, and I compared the new assembly to the one being replaced. The original was clearly bent.
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Old 11-10-2017, 03:07 AM   #8
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Model: Hurricane 34J
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THOR #5647
Thor recall in the works?

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheTraveler View Post
I have a 2017 Hurricane 34J and it has the same problem so it's not limited to the years listed above. I called Thor and they gave me an authorization number to have the entire wiper assembly replaced under warranty. I'm in the process of getting it scheduled. I hope it will not still be an issue once it's installed. I'll update this tread with the results as soon as I have them.


The RV tech at river city RV replaced the entire wiper assembly including the motor with a replacement unit that Thor sent (which btw looks very different from the original) and now the wipers work as you would expect even on high. Clearly the original factory installed wiper mechanism was defective. Btw, the Thor tech said that it pretty obvious that the Camping World service department that originally tried to fix it “clearly did know what they were doing”.
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Old 11-10-2017, 07:41 PM   #9
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State: New York
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THOR #8860
Wow...
I've never heard of busted wipers endangering lives before...
Oh; the correct term is "hyperbole"!
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Old 11-10-2017, 08:16 PM   #10
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Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
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THOR #2829
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
Wow...
I've never heard of busted wipers endangering lives before...
Oh; the correct term is "hyperbole"!
Well... when traveling at 60mph on I-75 in a rainstorm and watching both wipers fully disappear from view (fell to a straight vertical position when that S shaped piece of steel in j37genie's pic broke from colliding with the nut under it) it certainly wasn't any fun... and could have been quite dangerous.

We were able to get to side of the road - wait out the downpour - then slowly make our way to the next exit in light rain... Rain-X and improved weather helped the rest of the trip.
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Old 11-10-2017, 08:23 PM   #11
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THOR #8860
I'm glad that you survived such a harrowing experience...
But if you... s l o w d o w n
you'll always find that you can pull off the road, and re-arrange your shorts, before attempting a fix!
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Old 11-10-2017, 08:23 PM   #12
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Model: Axis 24.1 Windjammer
State: Illinois
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THOR #7074
Amen.
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Old 11-10-2017, 08:28 PM   #13
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Model: A.C.E 29.3
State: Minnesota
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
Wow...
I've never heard of busted wipers endangering lives before...
Oh; the correct term is "hyperbole"!
It is dangerous if it forces you to sit on the side of the road. Look at how many police/emergency vehicles are hit while on the side of the road. They have very visible flashing lights too.

The situation is even worse when visibility is reduced.
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Old 11-10-2017, 08:34 PM   #14
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Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
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THOR #8860
If life is too dangerous: stay at home, and wait for old age to kill you...

NOT everything that breaks is a life-threatening, four fire-arm, call in the Marines kind of event.

But they can be a pain in the ass!
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Old 11-10-2017, 08:54 PM   #15
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THOR #7074
Well. I for one couldn't think of anything much worst with my family in the rig when this happens and Your Family driving in a car next to me when it happens..... especially at night. I do hope this gets resolved for All of our sake!
Thor should do the right thing... recall and have them checked.
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SSF-106-40 SumoSprings Solo Front Bump Stop SSR-107-47 SumoSprings Rear Bump Stop
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Old 11-10-2017, 10:41 PM   #16
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Model: ACE 30.3 Sold
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THOR #8012
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheTraveler View Post
The RV tech at river city RV replaced the entire wiper assembly including the motor with a replacement unit that Thor sent (which btw looks very different from the original) and now the wipers work as you would expect even on high. Clearly the original factory installed wiper mechanism was defective. Btw, the Thor tech said that it pretty obvious that the Camping World service department that originally tried to fix it “clearly did know what they were doing”.
Ok, sorry for the slightly off topic question. Have you used River City before? Google reviews are horrible. Did you buy from them? If not, did they give you any problems trying to get warranty work done there?
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Old 11-11-2017, 11:02 PM   #17
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State: New York
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THOR #8860
Perhaps I come to this party with a different perspective...


http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1510441308
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Old 02-14-2018, 10:15 PM   #18
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Outlaw
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 2
THOR #10727
Thi's is happening to my unit. It has slowly gotten worse. No Authorized Thor repair shops in our area can assist with this.
Any idea on resolution. I am about to drive 3000 miles to Florida?
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Old 02-14-2018, 11:50 PM   #19
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Model: Challenger 37KT
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THOR #1183
Call Thor and see if you are in the recall. If not report to NHTSA using info above. Temp solution is to remove passenger sider wiper arm and Rain-x the entire windshield. Rain-x will allow driveing in light to moderate rain without wiper.
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Old 02-15-2018, 12:32 AM   #20
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THOR #3922
Ditto with the Rain-X.
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