AI Damage2021 Thor Motor Coach Challenger: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Thor Motor Coach Challenger filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and structure. The maker issued 1 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 67% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 67% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (67% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Structure: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
Unloading the storage compartments and discovered that the compartment wall was melted. It is directly next to, about 6 inches away from, the exhaust pipe.
Exhaust has blown (melted) a hole in the storage bin no heat shield was placed. The bin next to it has a heat shield.
brand new vehicle, first trip, what appears to be a break pads lock up, smell rubber first, got signal from another driver to pull over. When we got home got recall notice 21S17 with specific instructions to get back to dealer for service, but dealer does not have parts and told me not to come for the interim service…
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 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Challenger has 3 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- On your vehicle, the rear axle may contain an inadequate volume of lubricating oil
An inadequate volume of rear axle lubricant may result in rear wheel bearing damage potentially leading to bearing seizure. Bearing seizure may lead to rear axle or driveshaft failure. A rear axle or driveshaft failure…
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Thor Motor Coach Challenger?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, structure, service brakes. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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.