NHTSA complaint: 2013 THOR MOTOR COACH ACE — SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING A 2013 THOR ACE MOTOR HOME AT 60 MPH I HEARD BEEPING NOISE IN THE DRIVERS AREA. 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. THE LEVELING SYSTEM IS USED FOR LEVELING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. APPARENTLY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF IT DETECTS ONE OF THE JACKS LOWERING WHILE DRIVING IT APPLIES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE SYSTEM TO KEEP THE JACK UP, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A HYDRAULIC LEAK ON THE RETURN SIDE OF A JACK, THE SYSTEM SENDS HYDRAULIC FLUID TO A LEAKING LINE AND IN MY CASE IT STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE MOTOR HOME CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME INCLUDING CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO LEAK AND LOSING THE BRAKES TO THE MOTOR HOME AS WELL. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation