2005 Tiffin Phaeton recalls and problems

The 2005 Tiffin Phaeton has 5 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

How the 2005 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 20 Phaeton model years — 15th most.

5recalls

1complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

49,376median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

5 recalls

Equipment

Feb 8, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V082000 · 10,683 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Equipment

Oct 7, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V509000 · 3,507 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Electrical System

Jul 5, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V307000 · 265 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: When the torque is relaxed, the lugs can become loose resulting in excessive heat within the connected wire that could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

Dealers will replace the changeover box. The recall began on July 21, 2005. Owners May contact Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Equipment

Apr 12, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V145000 · 867 vehicles

Problem: On certain recreational vehicles, the washer/dryer in the rear of the motor home can move.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Risk: A vehicle occupant could be injured if the washer/dryer moved.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belts

Aug 3, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V383000 · 1,662 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Original NHTSA wording

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."

Risk: The seat belt buckle May unlatch in the event of a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury to the seat occupant.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

Amsafe will replace the buckles. Owners should contact amsafe at 574-266-8330 or Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

NHTSA investigations

POTENTIAL MOVEMENT OF WASHER/DRYER

PE05014 · opened Mar 17, 2005 · closed Apr 19, 2005 · led to recall 05V145000

Summary

IN JANUARY 2005, TIFFIN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (UNNUMBERED) ENTITLED ?SERVICE BULLETIN FOR POTENTIAL MOVEMENT OF WASHER/DRYER.?THE BULLETIN ADDRESSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE WASHER AND DRYER COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE MOTORHOME IS BEING DRIVEN.DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH TIFFIN, ODI LEARNED THAT TWO INCIDENTS HAD BEEN REPORTED WHERE THE WASHER AND DRYER FELL OR TIPPED OVER INTO THE LIVING SPACE.ON APRIL 7TH, 2005, TIFFIN NOTIFIED ODI THAT AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, THEY HAD DECIDED THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN AND SUBSEQUENTLY FILED SAFETY RECALL 05V-145 (COPY ATTACHED). TIFFAN WILL BE INSTALLING A KIT THAT PREVENTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WASHER AND DRYER ASSEMBLY. THIS ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

2005 vs. other Tiffin Phaeton years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2005. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton, the latest from Feb 8, 2011 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.