AI Damage2017 Thor Motor Coach Challenger: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Thor Motor Coach Challenger filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure. The maker issued 1 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 1
What fails most often
- Structure: 5 complaints (100% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My 2017 THOR Challenger was part of NHTSA recall 21V-845. I made repairs to my coach in 2017 and 2018 totaling $4600. I have sent THOR all pictures and receipts from those repairs. I started the process in March 2022.
The plunger on the trimark door handle/lock mechanism broke internally, locking us outside of our motor home. The motor home was parked.
While we were preparing to leave, the trimark entry door latch broke leaving 3 people trapped inside and me outside. I had to climb through a window using a ladder with tools to disassemble the lock and pry out the broken plunger part. I have attached a picture that represents the part of the latch that broke.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Challenger has 3 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This letter stated that there was one (1) Service Notification issued for the month of October, 2017
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Thor Motor Coach Challenger?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: door locks, latches, handles (40%), windows, sunroof (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Thor Motor Coach Challenger?
NHTSA lists 1 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 2017 Thor Motor Coach Challenger 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 2017 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.