2008 Tiffin Phaeton problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1) · Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields (1)
Safety recalls (5)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer 2016-07-13 · campaign 16V532000 · 10,351 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the windshield wiper arms break, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2015-12-28 · campaign 15V880000 · 14,889 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Exterior Lighting 2014-05-22 · campaign 14V271000 · 4,414 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A short in the circuit board increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2011-08-25 · campaign 11V452000 · 1,960 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A LOOSE BRAKE PEDAL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2010-11-22 · campaign 10V585000 · 2,717 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (11)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2017-11-10 · Letter to dealer · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this was a letter to our dealers we sent out when we first heard of the kidde fire extinguisher recall, even though it was still unofficial. we knew our coaches on the dealers' lots contained kidde and could not be sold unreplaced.
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2015-11-24 · SB-36 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tiffin motorhomes: tsb contains notification of owner letter. select document search button below. two screws was not installed on the air condition units on the roof. *ta updated 11/24/15. *pe
Electrical System:wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk 2015-07-16 · 16AWG · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
rv: instructions on how to install the charge solenoid wiring in a rv or vehicle. *ta
Equipment 2015-06-26 · C85-C86AC · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tiffin motorhomes: tsb contains notification of owner letter. select document search button below. all tiffin motorhomes will be installing 2 back screws of the c85 and c86 a/c's to the roof of all tiffin motorhomes. *ta.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2014-05-23 · WI-269 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tiffin motorhomes: exhaust tip and pipes to the muffler on phaeton models needs to be installed. *ta
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2013-03-12 · WI-196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tiffin motorhomes: tsb contains notification of owner letter. select document search button below. some tiffin motorhomes need driver/passenger seatbelts tightened on the mounting brackets located on the driver/passenger sidewall. *ta
Showing the 6 most recent of 11 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-08-12 · Structure:body“during annual maintenance of subject vehicle it was noted that the passenger side rear (behind rear axle) appeared to be sagging. upon further inspection it was found that a welded bracket that holds the body to the chassis had broken the weld and/or the bracket steel had failed which left the body in the affected area unattached to the chassis. …”
2018-08-24 · Visibility/Wiper · 66,000 mi“drivers side widow fogged between the panes of glass. this severely limits the drivers ability to see cross traffic, or vehicles along side.…”
2012-03-12 · Structure:body“we have found cracks and/or fractures on the roof of our 2008 tiffin phaeton qsh motor home. these cracks are mostly along the curved edge of the fiberglass roof. this defect seems to be caused by poor quality materials and poor design by tiffin motor homes leading to cracks due to "flexing" of the vehicle structural frame during travel. this ve…”
2012-03-09 · Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields · 13,500 mi“the wet bay floor holding the fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks has rotted underneath the motorcoach due to the poor design/engineering by tiffin motor homes, as well as very poor quality materials used. there is very little structural support for the tanks underneath the vehicle. all of the tanks and wet bay area have to be removed i…”
2010-12-02 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer“tl* the contact owns a 2008 tiffin phaeton 40 qs8 rv. the contact stated that he received notification of a recall for his norcold 1210 refrigerator stating that the failure could potentially cause a fire. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for the repair, but the contact was informed that there would be a 2 to 3 week wait for the part t…”
2008-07-22 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System · 5,500 mi“we took delivery on a tiffin phaeton 2008 motorhome (vin last digits 8cz81559)nov. 9, 2007. we first drove it on the road nov. 23, 2007 and within 30 miles had overheating, low coolant, engine shutdown problems. freightliner said to keep driving as long as it would go. we had multiple incidents with the same problem and kept getting the same ans…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.