2005 Tiffin PHAETON: complaints, problems and recalls

2005 ALLEGRO (TIFFIN) PHAETON ON FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS WITH CATAPILLAR C7 ENGINE: TRAVELING FROM SARASOTA, FL TO SAN DIEGO, CA STARTING AUGUST 18, 2009 THE ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING ON AN EVER MORE FREQUENT BASIS UNTIL AUGUST 27, 2009, WHEN TRAVERSING THE MOUNTAINS WEST OF SAN DIEGO ON INTERSTATE 8 WE WERE FORCED TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY EVERY ONE HALF TO ONE MILE TO COOL DOWN THE ENGINE TO A WORKABLE LEVEL. THESE FREQUENT STOPS CREATED A HAZARD FOR EVERYONE ELSE TRAVELING THAT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AND CREATED A RISK OF ENGINE FAILURE…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,376 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289786 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)

THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE LOOP LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209. "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence: THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: AMSAFE WILL REPLACE THE BUCKLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 574-266-8330 OR TIFFIN AT 1-256-356-8661.

Reported: 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)

ON CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, THE WASHER/DRYER IN THE REAR OF THE MOTOR HOME CAN MOVE.

Consequence: A VEHICLE OCCUPANT COULD BE INJURED IF THE WASHER/DRYER MOVED.

Remedy: TIFFIN HAS PROVIDED THE OWNERS WITH A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TIFFIN AT 1-256-356-0205.

Reported: 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES CONTAINING A 50 AMP TRANSFER SWITCH BUILT BY INTELLITEC, THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE WIRE LUGS WAS CHANGED FROM NICKEL PLATED TO COPPER LUGS. THE COPPER LUGS ARE SOFTER THAN THE NICKEL PLATED AND DO NOT RETAIN THE TORQUE OF THE SCREW THAT CLAMPS THE WIRE CONNECTOR.

Consequence: WHEN THE TORQUE IS RELAXED, THE LUGS CAN BECOME LOOSE RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE CONNECTED WIRE THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CHANGEOVER BOX. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TIFFIN AT 1-256-356-8661.

Reported: 2008-10-07 (October 7, 2008)

TIFFIN IS RECALLING 3,507 MY 2004-2007 ALLEGRO, ALLEGRO BAY AND ALLERO BUS, MY 2004-2005 PHAETON AND MY 2005-2007 ZEPHYR MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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 WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 256-356-8661.

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.