2005 Tiffin ZEPHYR: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2005-06-03 (June 3, 2005)

ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS' AQUA-HOT AND HYDRO-HOT WATER HEATERS, WHICH USE WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, THE BURNER TUBES DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.

Consequence: THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE EXHAUST TUBE EXITING FROM THE HEATER CAN INCREASE AND COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND HAVE THE REPAIR PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VEHICLE SYSTEMS AT 1-800-685-4298 OR TIFFIN AT 256-356-8661.

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: 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.