Model year record

2008 TIFFIN Phaeton

9 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 6 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V532000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer

Component
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
Manufacturer
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.
Vehicles affected
10,351
Reported to NHTSA
2016-07-13
Owners notified
2016-08-19

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V880000

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer

Component
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer
Manufacturer
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.
Vehicles affected
14,889
Reported to NHTSA
2015-12-28
Owners notified
2016-02-10

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V271000

Exterior lighting

Component
Exterior lighting
Manufacturer
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.
Vehicles affected
4,414
Reported to NHTSA
2014-05-22
Owners notified
2014-07-31

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V452000

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
Manufacturer
TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC.
Vehicles affected
1,960
Reported to NHTSA
2011-08-25
Owners notified
2009-12-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A LOOSE BRAKE PEDAL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 10V585000

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer

Component
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer
Manufacturer
TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC.
Vehicles affected
2,717
Reported to NHTSA
2010-11-22
Owners notified
2011-02-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V069000

Trailer hitches

Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC.
Vehicles affected
1,408
Reported to NHTSA
2009-02-27
Owners notified
2009-01-21

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V393000

Steering

Component
Steering
Manufacturer
TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC.
Vehicles affected
271
Reported to NHTSA
2008-08-01

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V269000

Suspension

Component
Suspension
Manufacturer
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA
Vehicles affected
2,506
Reported to NHTSA
2008-06-17
Owners notified
2008-09-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V363000

Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers

Component
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Manufacturer
SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC.
Vehicles affected
1,672
Reported to NHTSA
2007-08-15
Owners notified
2008-01-16

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Structure: body2
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system15,500 mi
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer1
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields113,500 mi
Visibility/wiper166,000 mi

The 2007 model has 6 times as many complaints as this one. The 2009 model has 6 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.