2003 Tiffin PHAETON: complaints, problems and recalls

THE AIR HOSES FOR THE REAR AIR BRAKES ARE PLACED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THEY RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WILL FAIL WHEN THEY RUB A HOLE IN A HOSE. WHEN THE HOSE FAILS THE REAR AIR BRAKES WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I DISCOVERED THAT MINE HAD BEEN RUBBING BUT HAD NOT FAILED YET. MY MOTORHOME HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218881 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR HOME AND TOWING A VEHICLE BY THE FLAT TOW, A POTHOLE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED SWAYED AND THE MOTOR HOME WAS UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787082 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-11-05 (November 5, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, THESE REFRIGERATORS MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: TIFFIN MOTORHOMES WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR TIFFIN AT 1-256-356-8661.

Reported: 2009-11-17 (November 17, 2009)

TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR AND 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 1, 2001, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND TIFFIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE BY NORCOLD. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-027. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.

Reported: 2011-02-08 (February 8, 2011)

TIFFIN MOTORHOMES 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 MOTORHOMES 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 SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101.