RoadVitals

2018 Tiffin Phaeton

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Mar 23, 2023
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Nov 5, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Tiffin Phaeton, most frequently naming the engine, other / unspecified and tires & wheels categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
21V680000

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:ANCHORAGE

Nov 5, 2021
10,409 units potentially affected
The defect: Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Allegro Breeze, Allegro Red, Allegro, Allegro Bus, Phaeton, and 2018-2021 Zephyr recreational vehicles. The sofa seat belts may not have been installed correctly, which could result in unsecured passengers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
The risk: Unsecured passengers have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661. Tiffin's number for this recall is TIF-118.
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.Manufacturer number TIF-118View on NHTSA.gov
21V306000

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Apr 30, 2021
3,198 units potentially affected
The defect: Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Bus and Phaeton vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Tiffin will work with Cummins to inspect the rail threads , and replace the rail and fuel lines if damage is found, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2021. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661.
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.Manufacturer number TIF-116View on NHTSA.gov
19V228000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Mar 22, 2019
2,289 units potentially affected
The defect: Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Phaeton, Allegro Bus, and Zephyr motorhomes. The alternating current electrical wires may have been improperly secured in the Energy Management Module, causing increased electrical resistance.
The risk: The additional resistance can cause the wires to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Tiffin will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Alternating Current Relay Board and make sure the wires are properly secured, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661. Tiffin's number for this recall is TIFF-111.
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.Manufacturer number TIFF-111View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 23, 2023

tire size 275/80/22.5 Driving down highway 301, driver side steer tire’s side wall blew out with no warning. My motor home made a hard left, luckily no one was in that fast lane. I managed to recover control and started to head to the shoulder of the road. Before I could reach the shoulder the rim cut the tire and threw it off the rim and into the highway. This put my life , my wife and anyone on the highway’s life in severe danger!!! I called michelin and their rep inspected the tire and felt the tire was run low. I completely disagree. All tires were checked that day and if this steer tire was low it would have pulled to the left!!

NHTSA ID
11513495
Incident
Jan 7, 2023
Engine
Filed Sep 3, 2021
Crash reported

The contact owns a 2018 Tiffin Phaeton RV. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the dashboard instrument cluster lights suddenly began to flash off and on and the Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF) sensor light remained illuminated before the vehicles decelerated independently to 5 MPH. The vehicle was driven to a nearby service center(unknown) and the Diesel Emission Fluid sensor was replaced, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 22,000.

NHTSA ID
11431608
Incident
Aug 8, 2021
Mileage
22,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 31, 2020

I SAW A POST ON THE TIFFIN RV FORUM REGARDING THE VALVE STEM STABILIZERS THAT FREIGHTLINER PROVIDED ON RECENT RV CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW STYLE RIM. I HAVE A 2018 TIFFIN COACH AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE SOON AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS RUBBING ON THE CHROME WHEEL AND IN FACT HAD RUBBED OFF THE CHROME DOWN TO BARE METAL. I TOOK IT TO BAY DIESEL IN RED BAY, AL. AND THEY REPLACE THE VALVE STEMS. THEY SHOWED ME ON ONE WHERE IT HAD ALMOST RUBBED THROUGH AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AIR LEAK IF I HAD DRIVEN IT MANY MORE MILES. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WARRANTABLE AND I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT STEMS. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SOON AFTER AND WHEN I CALLED FREIGHTLINER, THE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT COME UP WITH A CORRECTION AS YET. MFR BUILD DATE WAS 4/1/2018.

NHTSA ID
11307150
Incident
Oct 11, 2018

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

MCD-009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Stopped using the lights we had been using due to expense. Replaced with these, but these new lights have to be wired in instead of just clicking in. These are the instructions to wire in.

CSA-036

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Faulty DEF sensors that due to shortage were not replaced. Instead engine software was temporarily modified to account for continued operation with a faulty sensor until replacement sensors were available. This campaign will install an engine control module calibration as well as confirm and/or install a new DEF header.

CSA-11

TIRES; WHEELS

Tiffin Motorhomes was notified by Daimler Trucks North America on behalf of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation of a defect that exists on specific model year 2017 - 2022 Freightliner Custom Chassis X-Line chassis manufactured February 20, 2017 through November 18, 2021 that are equipped with a valve stem extension and stabilizer configured with a specific tire valve stem and wheel combination. Tiffin Motorhomes built motorhomes on these specific Freightliner chassis between April, 2017 through December 6, 2021. Certain chassis may have been built with the tire valve stem extension for the inner wheel contacting the outer wheel rim opening, potentially damaging the valve stem resulting in a loss of air pressure in the inner tire. A loss of air pressure in the inner tire on a motorhome with a single drive axle may overload the outer tire and increase the risk of a crash.

CSA-009

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FCCC Motorhome Chassis Rear PDM’s FL-856

CSA-004

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Customer Service Advisory for Cummins Recall #21E032 and Freightliner Recall #21V-326 for High Pressure Fuel Rail - Freightliner chassis units built on by Tiffin.

TIFF 12-2019

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

There is the possibility the water filter housing is installed incorrectly. If a motorhome has the water filter housing installed incorrectly, there is the possibility of excess air in the water lines.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Tiffin Phaeton by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026010—
2025110—
2024010—
2023050—
2022690—
2021370—
2020230—
2019340—
2018Viewing350—
2017120—
2016110—
2015230—
2014320—
2013020—
2012270—
20114120—
2010391—
2009181—
2008691—
2007170—
2006010—
2005151—
2004150—
2003230—
2002030—
2001130—
2000020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.