RoadVitals

2008 Tiffin Zephyr

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.
1
Latest May 18, 2017
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.
4
Latest Jul 13, 2016
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2008 Tiffin Zephyr, most frequently naming the steering category. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 11 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

  • Steering1100.0%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
16V532000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Jul 13, 2016
10,351 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: If the windshield wiper arms break, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.Manufacturer number TIFF-100View on NHTSA.gov
14V271000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 22, 2014
4,414 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: A short in the circuit board increases the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
10V585000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Nov 22, 2010
2,717 units potentially affected
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed May 18, 2017

STEERING GEAR PLAY -- PROBLEM BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF SPARTAN, INCLUDING TRIP TO SERVICE CENTER AT CHARLOTTE, MI. -- HAD TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED, NEW SHOCKS, ALL WHEEL ALIGNMENT, -- RECENTLY HAD RECALL COMPLETED ON STEERING GEAR BRACKET. HAVE EXCESS PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL, APPROXIMATELY 2" OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE THE TIRES TURN. I'M CONSTANTLY CORRECTING STEERING IN A CROSS WIND OR NAVIGATING CONSTRUCTION AREAS WHERE UNEVEN PAVEMENT IS ENCOUNTERED. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND POTENTIAL OF A WRECK.

NHTSA ID
10986325
Incident
May 17, 2017

Manufacturer communications

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

Letter to dealer

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

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.

SB-36

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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

16AWG

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

RV: INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL THE CHARGE SOLENOID WIRING IN A RV OR VEHICLE. *TA

C85-C86AC

EQUIPMENT

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.

WI-267

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TIFFIN MOTORHOMES: INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL AND SECURE ALL THE EXHAUST PIPES ON ALL ZEPHYR VEHICLES. *TA

WI-196

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

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

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 Zephyr by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026010—
2025020—
2024020—
2023030—
2022050—
2021020—
2020030—
2019050—
2018060—
2017020—
2015010—
2014020—
2013130—
2012010—
2011040—
2010060—
2009060—
2008Viewing140—
2007050—
2006020—
2005061—
2003030—
2002130—
2001230—
2000030—
1999020—

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.