2008 Tiffin PHAETON: complaints, problems and recalls

WE TOOK DELIVERY ON A TIFFIN PHAETON 2008 MOTORHOME (VIN LAST DIGITS 8CZ81559)NOV. 9, 2007. WE FIRST DROVE IT ON THE ROAD NOV. 23, 2007 AND WITHIN 30 MILES HAD OVERHEATING, LOW COOLANT, ENGINE SHUTDOWN PROBLEMS. FREIGHTLINER SAID TO KEEP DRIVING AS LONG AS IT WOULD GO. WE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND KEPT GETTING THE SAME ANSWERS. ON JUNE 25, 2008, WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY FOUR LANE 50 MILES SOUTH OF KANSAS CITY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO CUMMINS SINCE FREIGHTLINER HAD 6 TECH'S OFF TO SCHOOL. WHEN DIAGNOSING THE PR…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235343 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TIFFIN PHAETON 40 QS8 RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL FOR HIS NORCOLD 1210 REFRIGERATOR STATING THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE REPAIR, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A 2 TO 3 WEEK WAIT FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10368696 at NHTSA ↗

THE WET BAY FLOOR HOLDING THE FRESH WATER, GRAY WATER, AND BLACK WATER TANKS HAS ROTTED UNDERNEATH THE MOTORCOACH DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN/ENGINEERING BY TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES, AS WELL AS VERY POOR QUALITY MATERIALS USED. THERE IS VERY LITTLE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT FOR THE TANKS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE TANKS AND WET BAY AREA HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE ROTTING AND MOLD IN THIS AREA. THE INTERIOR FLOOR OF THE MOTOR HOME HAS ALSO BEGUN TO DROP LIKELY DUE TO THIS ROTTING. TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES IS FULLY AWARE OF …

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451009 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE FOUND CRACKS AND/OR FRACTURES ON THE ROOF OF OUR 2008 TIFFIN PHAETON QSH MOTOR HOME. THESE CRACKS ARE MOSTLY ALONG THE CURVED EDGE OF THE FIBERGLASS ROOF. THIS DEFECT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY POOR QUALITY MATERIALS AND POOR DESIGN BY TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES LEADING TO CRACKS DUE TO "FLEXING" OF THE VEHICLE STRUCTURAL FRAME DURING TRAVEL. THIS VEHICLE DEFECT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED TO TIFFIN BY MANY OWNERS OF THEIR PRODUCTS BEGINNING IN 2007 (AND PERHAPS BEFORE) THROUGH 2011 MODELS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM DEALERS AND OTHER MOTOR HOME OWNER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10451138 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVERS SIDE WIDOW FOGGED BETWEEN THE PANES OF GLASS. THIS SEVERELY LIMITS THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE CROSS TRAFFIC, OR VEHICLES ALONG SIDE.

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122017 at NHTSA ↗

During annual maintenance of subject vehicle it was noted that the passenger side rear (behind rear axle) appeared to be sagging. Upon further inspection it was found that a welded bracket that holds the body to the chassis had broken the weld and/or the bracket steel had failed which left the body in the affected area unattached to the chassis. Additional failure in this area could cause the area to fall lower and drop on the rear wheels causing loss of control of the vehicle.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11607991 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-08-15 (August 15, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, THERE MAY BE A LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BUS BAR AND A GRID PAD DUE TO THE PINS BEING SLIGHTLY SMALLER DIAMETERS AFTER ASSEMBLY. ELECTRICAL POWER MAY BE LOST TO COMPONENTS OF THE MAJOR CHASSIS OPERATING SYSTEMS (ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STARTING, COOLING) CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN AND/OR NOT BE CAPABLE OF POWERING UP.

Consequence: EACH VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS COULD OCCUR: LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STARTING AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS, OPERATION OF THE RIGHT CHASSIS STOP/TURN SIGNAL AND RIGHT TRAILER STOP/TURN SIGNAL, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, AUXILIARY BRAKE SYSTEM, THE HEATER ELEMENTS IN THE AIR DRYER, AND THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE WATER-IN-FUEL SEPARATOR.

Remedy: THE DVEC BUSSMANN BOX WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400.

Reported: 2008-06-17 (June 17, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 2,506 MY 2008 XC MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND THOMAS BUILT HDX SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND ADL SERIES REAR SUSPENSIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.

Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH SAF-HOLLAND TO HAVE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ADL TRANSVERSE BEAM PERFORMED. IF A WELD DEFECT IS IDENTIFIED, SAF-HOLLAND WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE REPLACEMENT KIT THAT CONTAINS A NEW TRANSVERSE BEAM, ALL NECESSARY INSTALLATION HARDWARE, BEAM REPLACEMENT, AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08E031). THE RECALL RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 (THOMAS BUILT BUSES) AND OCTOBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-08-01 (August 1, 2008)

TIFFIN IS RECALLING 271 MY 2007-2008 PHAETON CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE AAC FRONT AXLE STEERING ARM BOLTS WITH A LATCH LEVER PIVOT BOLT ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN OVER- TIGHTENED.

Consequence: OVER-TIGHTENED STEERING ARM BOLTS MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO HAVE THE STEERING ARM TIE ROD FASTENERS INSPECTED AND REPLACED. THE STEERING ARM WILL BE INSPECTED FOR CLEARANCE TO THE KING PIN BOSS. FREIGHTLINER IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2009-02-27 (February 27, 2009)

TIFFIN IS RECALLING 1,408 MY 2006-2009 ALLEGRO BUS, MY 2007-2009 PHAETON AND MY 2005-2009 ZEPHYR VEHICLES BUILT ON SPARTAN CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH PUTMAN HITCHES. CERTAIN TRAILER HITCHES MAY FRACTURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE TRAILER.

Consequence: SUSPECT HITCHES MAY DEVELOP FRACTURES AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION MAY OCCUR, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PEDESTRIAN HARM.

Remedy: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH SPARTAN AND SPARTAN IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 08V-567). THE TRAILER HITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400 OR TIFFIN AT 256-356-8661.

Reported: 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)

TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR TIFFIN AT 1-256-356-8661.

Reported: 2011-08-25 (August 25, 2011)

TIFFIN MOTORHOMES IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 PHAETON, MY 2008-2010 BUS, AND MY 2010 ALLEGRO MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ARM MAY LOOSEN ALLOWING THE ARM TO ROTATE AROUND ITS SHAFT AND SWING IN FRONT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REDUCING BRAKING FUNCTION.

Consequence: A LOOSE BRAKE PEDAL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DAMILER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS PERFORMING RECALL REPAIRS AND NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS. THE OWNERS WERE INITIALLY NOTIFIED BY DTNA TRUCKS ON DECEMBER 22, 2009, AND A FOLLOW UP NOTICE WAS MAILED TO OWNERS ON JULY 20, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA WARRANTY CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-547-0712 OR TIFFIN MOTORHOMES AT 1-256-356-8661 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Reported: 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)

Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Allegro, 2010-2011 Bus and Breeze, and 2008-2011 Phaeton and Zephyr recreational vehicles, equipped with LED clearance lights made by Command Electronics, Inc. In the affected vehicles, moisture may enter the light and cause a short between two connections on the circuit board.

Consequence: A short in the circuit board increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Tiffin will notify owners, and dealers will install a one amp inline fuse into the front and rear circuits that will blow if there is a short in any of the clearance lights, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2014. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661.

Reported: 2015-12-28 (December 28, 2015)

Tiffin Motorhomes (Tiffin) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 motorhomes manufactured May 1, 2007, to December 31, 2014, equipped with certain Coachstep Double and Triple Electric Steps. The bolt that attaches the fan gear assembly to the steps may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may become unstable.

Consequence: Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will install a retainer bracket on the double step assemblies and the Coachstep Linkage Assembly will be replaced and a retainer bracket will be installed on the trip step assemblies. The recall began on Ferbuary 10, 2016. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661, or Lippert customer service at 1-574-537-8900.

Reported: 2016-07-13 (July 13, 2016)

Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Allegro, Allegro Bus, Phaeton, and Zephyr motorhomes, 2007-2010 Allegro Bay motorhomes, and 2010-2011 Allegro Breeze motorhomes. The windshield wiper arms on the affected vehicles may break off.

Consequence: If the windshield wiper arms break, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tiffin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper blade arms, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2016. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661. Tiffin's number for this recall is TIFF-100.