2009 Tiffin ZEPHYR: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2012-02-24 (February 24, 2012)

TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 BUS, AS WELL AS CERTAIN 2009-2011 AND 2013 ZEPHYR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, PART NUMBER 2791-NN2E-001 OR 2791-NN2E-002. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE CRUISE CONTROL MAY NOT CANCEL. ADDITIONALLY, THESE VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INADVERTENT, MODERATE INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES ITS GOVERNED SPEED AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE REDUCED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF EITHER THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING THE BRAKE OR THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES AND THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE INCREASED SPEED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TIFFIN AT 1-256-356-8661.

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: 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.

Reported: 2017-12-22 (December 22, 2017)

Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain 2009-2018 Allegro and Allegro RED, Bus and Phaeton vehicles, 2009-2010 Bay vehicles, 2011-2018 Breeze vehicles, and 2009-2015, and 2017-2018 Zephyr vehicles. These motorhomes are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Tiffin will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Owners may also contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661.