NHTSA Complaint #10991973 — 2015 THOR MOTOR COACH TUSCANY

THIS VEHICLE CONTAINS A BI-DIRECTIONAL RELAY (BIRD) WHICH INTERCONNECTS THE HOUSE AND VEHICLE BATTERIES FOR CHARGING VIA SHORE POWER, GENERATOR, OR ENGINE ALTERNATOR (WHILE DRIVING, OF COURSE) AND FOR THE AUX START FUNCTION IN CASE THE ENGINE BATTERY IS DEAD. THIS RELAY (OR ITS CONTROL CIRCUIT) IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. I AM ON MY THIRD IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM IS LACK OF CHARGING ON THE HOUSE BATTERIES. HOWEVER, IT CAN ALSO LEAD TO A DEAD ENGINE BATTERY IF THAT BATTERY BECOMES DEPLETED WHILE PARKED EVEN THOUGH CONNECTED TO SHORE POWER OR USING THE GENERATOR. IN THIS CASE, THE AUX START WILL NOT FUNCTION AS IT USES THE SAME RELAY. THIS COULD LEAVE ONE STRANDED IN THE BACKCOUNTRY WITH NO ENGINE STARTING CAPABILITY. IN MY CASE, WE WERE PARKED AND CONNECTED TO SHORE POWER FOR MANY DAYS. THE ENGINE BATTERY WAS APPARENTLY DEPLETED BY SOME SMALL DRAIN. ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE BATTERIES WERE FULLY CHARGED, WE COULD NOT START THE ENGINE TO LEAVE.