- The 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.
- 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 fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Tiffin Phaeton Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton with NHTSA, most often about the equipment & accessories (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in February 2011 for the recreational vehicle / trailer. For comparison, the 2003 has 2 and the 2005 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Phaeton year, for its age
#455 most complained-about 2004 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2004 Tiffin Phaeton problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Tiffin Phaeton recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The 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.
- The risk
- Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.
- The fix
- 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 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 1-256-356-8661.
- The problem
- On certain class a motor homes equipped with vehicle systems' aqua-hot and hydro-hot water heaters, which use webasto burner tubes, the burner tubes do not meet specifications and could fail prematurely.
- The risk
- The surface temperature of the exhaust tube exiting from the heater can increase and could potentially ignite combustible materials in or around the vehicle.
- The fix
- Tiffin is working with vehicle systems to notify owners and have the repair performed on their vehicles. Owners may contact vehicle systems at 1-800-685-4298 or tiffin at 256-356-8661.
- The 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."
- The risk
- The seat belt buckle may unlatch in the event of a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury to the seat occupant.
- The fix
- Amsafe will replace the buckles. Owners should contact amsafe at 574-266-8330 or tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Our rv refrigerator ignited causing a fire in the back of the unit. If we had not been home, our rv would have been completely destroyed. Two days following this incident we received a recall letter from dometic warning of a possible fire danger. However, the unit that we have was not listed in the recall, but the fire occurred exactly as described in the recall letter. Our attempts to contact dometic have gone unanswered for two weeks. ( Ie email and telephone.) This incident required that we turn off the...
Read the full complaint
propane used to heat our rv. Therefore not only do we not have a refrigerator, we are unable to use the gas heater. Information should be forthcoming from the company and it is not. *Tr
Tiffin Phaeton: every year compared
All Phaeton years2004 Tiffin Phaeton vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Tiffin Phaeton | 1 | 5 | C | |
| 2004 Tiffin Allegro Bay | 3 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Tiffin Allegro | 1 | 8 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Tiffin Allegro Bus | 1 | 2 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton
Does the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton: recreational vehicle / trailer (February 2011); recreational vehicle / trailer (October 2008); recreational vehicle / trailer (November 2007); water heater (June 2005) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the equipment & accessories (1).
How many complaints has the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 7, 2009 and the latest on March 7, 2009. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2004 Tiffin Phaeton a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 54 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Tiffin Phaeton year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Tiffin Phaeton years have the most complaints?
2008 (6), 2022 (6), 2011 (4). See every Tiffin Phaeton year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Tiffin Phaeton has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data