- 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
2005 Tiffin Phaeton Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (1). It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in February 2011 for the recreational vehicle / trailer. For comparison, the 2004 has 1 and the 2006 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Phaeton year, for its age
#440 most complained-about 2005 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2005 Tiffin Phaeton problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2005 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 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the changeover box. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.
- The problem
- On certain recreational vehicles, the washer/dryer in the rear of the motor home can move.
- The risk
- A vehicle occupant could be injured if the washer/dryer moved.
- The fix
- 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.
- 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 2005 Tiffin Phaeton
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
2005 Allegro (tiffin) phaeton on freightliner xc chassis with catapillar c7 engine: traveling from sarasota, fl to san diego, ca starting august 18, 2009 the engine began overheating on an ever more frequent basis until august 27, 2009, when traversing the mountains west of san diego on interstate 8 we were forced to stop on the side of the highway every one half to one mile to cool down the engine to a workable level. These frequent stops created a hazard for everyone else traveling that stretch of highway and...
Read the full complaint
created a risk of engine failure and/or fire in a generally remote area. During one such stop we did scrape the side of the vehicle on a guard rail under a railroad trestle. The damage has not yet been estimated but I expect it to be approximately $3,000. The problem was eventually traced by freightliner san diego to a too short crankcase blowby vent on the engine that allowed crankcase oil mist to be sprayed on the forward side of the radiator by the cooling fan. Subsequently, dust and dirt thrown up during driving was absorbed by the oil and essentially blocked the air flow over the radiator. After some miles (ours was at about 49000+ miles) the blockage becomes great enough to cause almost total failure. Given its location the side of the radiator affected is not visible to inspection without significant effort. The solution was to remove the radiator and the air charge cooler, clean them and reinstall them. In addition, freightliner provided a replacement for the crankcase blowby tube that is longer and sends the oil below the radiator (i.E., This is a known problem at freightliner). I do not have the original tube. The cost for the cleaning was $2,403.78 And the part was $256.58 (Done at separate facilities).*Tr
Tiffin Phaeton: every year compared
All Phaeton years2005 Tiffin Phaeton vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Tiffin Phaeton | 1 | 5 | C | |
| 2005 Tiffin Allegro Bay | 3 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Tiffin Allegro | 2 | 7 | D | 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 2005 Tiffin Phaeton
Does the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton: recreational vehicle / trailer (February 2011); recreational vehicle / trailer (October 2008); electrical system (July 2005); recreational vehicle / trailer (April 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 2005 Tiffin Phaeton?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (1).
How many complaints has the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 26, 2009 and the latest on October 26, 2009. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2005 Tiffin Phaeton a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 58 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 2005 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