Recall 17V163 affects 58 2017 Thor Aria motorhomes with passenger-side sofa seat belts too short to fasten. Repair is free at any franchised Thor dealer.
Thor is recalling 58 2017 Aria motorhomes because the passenger-side sofa seat belts are too short to fasten around passengers seated there. If the belt cannot restrain a passenger, injury risk increases in a crash, and the dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The seat belts on the passenger side sofa in the 2017 Thor Aria are supposed to hold seated passengers in place during travel. A belt has to reach around the passenger, latch securely, and stay tight enough to restrain the body if the motorhome stops hard or is involved in a crash.
On affected Aria motorhomes, the belts installed on that sofa are the wrong length. They are too short to fasten around passengers seated there, so the belt cannot do its normal job. The issue traces back to manufacture, when incorrect length seat belts were installed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem shows up when someone tries to use the sofa belt and it does not reach or latch around the seated passenger.
Who's affected?
| 2017 Thor Aria | seat belt |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 58 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2017 Thor Aria motorhome is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the incorrect seat belt is in your Aria, it can fail to adequately restrain passengers in a crash, which increases injury risk. Use all belts as designed, schedule the recall repair, and ask Thor about safe transport if a belt position is unusable. Repair is free at any franchised Thor dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017 Thor Aria is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thor dealer to schedule the free longer-seat-belt replacement for the passenger-side sofa belt that is too short to fasten around passengers.
- Bring the recall notice if Thor mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V163 when you call.
- Use another belted seat for passengers until the longer sofa seat belt is installed.
- Call Thor customer service at 1-877-855-2867 with questions.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thor technician replaces the incorrect passenger side sofa seat belt with a longer seat belt so it can fasten around passengers seated there. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. If you already paid out of pocket for a related seat belt repair, Thor says reimbursement is handled through its normal claim process. Bring your repair paperwork and ask the service desk to start that claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 13, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 19, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 7, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| May 7, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 7, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 7, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V163?
Recall 17V163 covers 58 2017 Thor Aria 3601 motorhomes with passenger-side sofa seat belts that are too short to fasten around passengers seated there. Thor dealers will replace the incorrect seat belt with a longer one for free.
What should I do if my 2017 Thor Aria is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 17V163. If it is, contact a Thor dealer to schedule the passenger-side sofa seat belt replacement. Reference recall 17V163 or Thor recall number RC000129 when you call.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Thor dealers will replace the incorrect passenger-side sofa seat belt with a longer one free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 17V163?
The safety risk is inadequate passenger restraint in a crash. If the passenger-side sofa seat belt is too short to fasten correctly, it cannot adequately restrain the person seated there, which increases the risk of injury. The dealer repair replaces that belt with a longer one.
What if I bought my Thor Aria used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2017 Thor Aria is included, then call a Thor dealer or Thor customer service at 1-877-855-2867.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V163000 |
|---|---|
| Thor customer service | 1-877-855-2867 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V163 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V163000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →