2003 TIFFIN PHAETON — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON
The 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Service Brakes Airsupplyhoses Linespiping And Fittings (1 complaint), Steering (1 complaint), and Suspension (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON, potentially affecting up to 22,649 vehicles.
Recall 11V082000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 10,683 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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 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...
View full details →Recall 09V443000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 528 vehicles affected
Defect: TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR AND 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 1, 2001, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED...
Consequence: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND TIFFIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE BY NORCOLD. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-027. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.
View full details →Recall 07V517000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 11,438 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, THESE REFRIGERATORS 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 MOTORHOMES WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes Airsupplyhoses Linespiping And Fittings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR HOME AND TOWING A VEHICLE BY THE FLAT TOW, A POTHOLE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED SWAYED AND THE MOTOR HOME WAS UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR HOME AND TOWING A VEHICLE BY THE FLAT TOW, A POTHOLE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED SWAYED AND THE MOTOR HOME WAS UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
THE AIR HOSES FOR THE REAR AIR BRAKES ARE PLACED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THEY RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WILL FAIL WHEN THEY RUB A HOLE IN A HOSE. WHEN THE HOSE FAILS THE REAR AIR BRAKES WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I DISCOVERED THAT MINE HAD BEEN RUBBING BUT HAD NOT FAILED YET. MY MOTORHOME HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Safety Rating for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NHTSA #25E-004 (Cummins) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CSA-043 FCCC Chassis with Cummins L9 Engine Low Pressure Fuel Hose Tiffin received from Daimler Campaign # F1016; Cummins Campaign # C7111. Cummins Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain Cummins L9 engines manufactured between 8/4/23 and 12/21/23. Due to a manufacturing...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TIFFIN PHAETON
- 2000 TIFFIN PHAETON — 0 complaints
- 2001 TIFFIN PHAETON — 1 complaint
- 2002 TIFFIN PHAETON — 0 complaints
- 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON (current)
- 2004 TIFFIN PHAETON — 2 complaints
- 2005 TIFFIN PHAETON — 1 complaint
- 2006 TIFFIN PHAETON — 0 complaints
- 2007 TIFFIN PHAETON — 1 complaint
- 2008 TIFFIN PHAETON — 6 complaints
Other TIFFIN Models
- TIFFIN ALLEGRO — 207 total complaints
- TIFFIN ALLEGRO OPEN ROAD — 56 total complaints
- TIFFIN ALLEGRO BAY — 35 total complaints
- TIFFIN ALLEGRO RED — 32 total complaints
- TIFFIN ALLEGRO BUS — 27 total complaints
- TIFFIN WAYFARER — 27 total complaints
- TIFFIN ALLEGRO BREEZE — 12 total complaints
- TIFFIN ZEPHYR — 10 total complaints