AI Damage2013 Thor Motor Coach ACE: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Thor Motor Coach ACE filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 67% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 33% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
While trying to figure out the source I discovered the motor home was on fire under the right front. The leveling system had turned on the hydraulic pump and one of the return lines was leaking. The resulting high pressure hydraulic fluid was spraying on the exhaust and igniting.
Any front end collision could cause these new lines and or the oil cooler to break creating the potential for a fire. I am attaching two pictures in the first you can see the oil cooler attached to the radiator through the front grill of the vehicle, the second shows a closer view of the oil cooler.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the ACE has 3 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Thor Motor Coach ACE?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine, fuel system. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (100%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Thor Motor Coach ACE?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Thor Motor Coach ACE from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.