TIFFIN Complaints

COOLING SYSTEM FAN DRIVE BELT TENSIONER DEVELOPS CRACKS THAT PROGRESS TO THE POINT OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHERE HALF THE BRACKET END AND TWO HEAVY PULLEYS ARE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE BY THE FAST MOVING FAN BELT.. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM AND TIFFIN HAS REDESIGNED THE BRACKET AND IS REPAIRING THEM AS THEY FAIL. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FAILURES AND POSTS ABOUT THEM POSTED IN THE ON-LINE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE FORUMS. AS A RESULT OF THESE POSTS, I ADDED A CHECK OF THIS BRACKET TO MY MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST. A MAJOR MAINTENANCE CYCLE WAS COMPLETED JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. ANOTHER MAINTENANCE CYCLE WAS COMPLETED THIS MAY, APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES LATER, AND THE CRACKS WERE FOUND. TIFFIN WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPLACEMENT BRACKET IS BEING SENT TO ME. *DT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TIFFIN ALLEGRO HITCHED TO A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE, THE EXHAUST BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO THE FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS TO ACTIVATE. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ACTIVATE ON THE RV AS WELL AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THAT THEY WOULD OVERHEAT DURING THE SIXTEEN MILE DOWNHILL DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE TOWED VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD ILLUMINATE AND THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD ONLY ACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREIGHTLINER DEALER: M & M COACH AT 5787 MCCULLY ST, CHINO, CA 91710 WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE BRAKES LIGHTS BUT FAILED. THE FREIGHTLINER MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MULTIPLEX SYSTEM WAS PROGRAMMED WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE EXHAUST BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,400. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS.

2001 TIFFIN ALLEGRO RV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RV INFESTED WITH RODENTS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD *JS

THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 18 VERTICAL POSTS (SQUARE STEEL TUBE) THAT CONECT AND SUSPEND THE COACH FLOOR FRAME APPROXIMATELY 1.5 INCHES ABOVE THE CHASSIS RAILS. PER TIFFIN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES, THESE POSTS ARE TO BE WELDED TO THE CHASSIS ON BOTH SIDES WHERE THE SQUARE STEEL TUBE INTERFACES THE CHASSIS RAIL BY APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES. ON 1/15/18, I PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THESE WELDS BASED ON MANY DOCUMENTED CASES FROM OTHER TIFFIN ALLEGRO OWNERS OF FAILED HOUSE-TO-CHASSIS WELDS, AND I FOUND ALL 18 POSTS WELDED ON ONLY ONE SIDE AND ONE FAILED WELD THAT HAD A COMPLETE FULL-LENGTH CRACK. TIFFIN IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR AS MANY COACHES HAVE EXPERIENCED WELD FAILURES ON ALL PASSENGER SIDE POSTS RESULTING IN A COLLAPSE OF THE HOUSE ONTO THE CHASSIS RAIL. THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AS VEHICLE HANDLING CAN BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SUCH A COLLAPSE. MANY OF THESE COACHES HAVE RETURNED TO TIFFIN'S RED BAY SERVICE CENTER IN ALABAMA WHERE MECHANICS CORRECTLY SECURE THE POSTS WITH WELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF EACH POST. TIFFIN HAS NOT NOTIFIED ANY OWNER OF THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR AND THE ASSOCIATED SAFETY RISKS. FURTHERMORE, THEY REFUSE TO AUTHORIZE A REASONABLE AMOUNT FOR OTHER SERVICE CENTERS TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. INSTEAD, ONCE QUESTIONED ABOUT THESE FAULTY WELDS, THEY ENCOURAGE THEIR CUSTOMERS TO TRAVEL TO THEIR ONE FACILITY IN ALABAMA SO THEIR OWN MECHANICS CAN PERFORM THE REPAIRS AT NO CHARGE.

THE TWO MOST SERIOUS DEFECTS ARE A CRACKED FRAME OVER THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) AND INOPERABLE FRONT BRAKES. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER THAT THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW. PER THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CENTER (ATEL BUS & TRUCK , BELTSVILLE MD) "THE SLACK ADJUSTERS ARE TOUCHING THE KNUCKLE AND/OR TOP OF THE KING PIN WHEN APPLIED - TOUCHING KEEPS THE SLACK ADJUSTER FROM TRAVELING FAR ENOUGH TO APPLY THE BRAKE SHOES TO THE DRUM. FOUND COBWEBS IN THE BRAKES (THEY HAVE NEVER TOUCHED THE DRUMS)." THE COACH ALSO HAS NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES LIKELY RELATED TO INSTABILITY - VEHICLE LEANS TO THE RIGHT SIDE, EXCESSIVE SWAY IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING, FRONT SHOCKS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND STEERING COLUMN NOISE. THESE AND OTHER ISSUES ARE DETAILED IN FULL INSPECTION REPORTS FROM ATEL BUS & TRUCK; INSPECTIONS BY NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY; AND CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN OUR ATTORNEYS AND TIFFIN. THESE ARE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS AND NOT THE RESULT OF A SPECIFIC INCIDENT. THE COACH CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER MUCH OF WHICH HAS BEEN ACCUMULATED DURING SERVICE TRIPS TO TIFFIN. IN ADDITION, THE COACH HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR USE LESS THAN HALF OF THE TIME WE'VE OWNED IT. IT'S CURRENTLY SITTING AT ATEL BUS & TRUCK WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR OVER NINETEEN MONTHS. WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO DISCUSS THESE AND OTHER ISSUES WITH ANYONE WILLING TO HEAR OUR STORY. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY ATEL BUS & TRUCK (TIFFIN'S AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER) THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR TRAVEL.

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 AT ABOUT 3:00 PM, MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I - 76 IN COMMERCE CITY, A SUBURB OF DENVER, COLORADO. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED ON, THEN MULTIPLE OTHER DASHBOARD INDICATORS BEGAN FLASHING, THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY AND THE BRAKES AND STEERING WORKED POORLY. I HAD TO QUICKLY CROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE EXPRESSWAY. FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HELPED ARRANGE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AT 8:45. WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY PARKED AT A RUSH TRUCK CENTER AT 9:45 THAT EVENING. ON SEPT 25, RUSH TRUCK CENTER DIAGNOSED THE MOTORHOME WITH ENGINE SHUTDOWN, BLOWN FUSES AND TOTAL DISCONNECT OF THE PCM. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, 0.049042 'THE RV BUILDER BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.' A COPY OF THE INVOICE AND A PICTURE OF THE PINCHED HARNESS ARE ATTACHED.

THE TIFFIN ALLEGRO PHAETON 44OH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOME ON JANUARY 2, 2017. AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30AM OUR HOME SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED A FIRE START IN THE WET BAY AREA. THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE ENTIRE CENTER SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. CITY FIRE INVESTIGATORS AND AN INDEPENDENT FIRE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION COMPANY IDENTIFIED THE WET BAY ARE AS THE LOCATION WHERE THE FIRE IGNITED (COINCIDING WITH THE HOME SECURITY VIDEO). ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRE, WE NOTED THAT THE GFCI OUTLET IN THE WET BAY WAS NOT WORKING AND IT QUICKLY TRIPPED OFF WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO RESET IT. ADDITIONALLY, WE REVIEWED OUR TIFFIN DEALER ORIENTATION VIDEOS AND LEARNED THAT THE MANUFACTURER BEGAN INSTALLING THESE 110V OUTLETS IN THE WET BAY RECENTLY. THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THE GFCI OUTLET AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE HEAT (IT WAS DESTROYED) HOWEVER, THEIR REPORT INDICATES THAT THE FIRE PATTERN INDICATES AN IGNITION IN THIS AREA.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 (NA) TIFFIN ALLEGRO RED. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID, SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION, AND GASKETS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RV WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,019. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ *AS

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (12-22-2013 THROUGH 10-09-2016), WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE IN RAIN AND/OR SNOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THEY TYPICALLY STOP MID STROKE AND WILL NOT OPERATE IN ANY OF THE LOW SPEED OR INTERMITTENT SETTINGS. TO GET THEM STARTED AGAIN YOU MUST TURN THE WIPERS OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. ALTERNATIVELY, THEY WILL BEGIN WORKING AGAIN IF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX AS THEY WILL STOP WORKING AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. I HAVE REPLACED THE PULSE CONTROL MODULE TO NO AVAIL. I'VE HAD TWO TIFFIN AUTHORIZED REPAIR CENTERS AND A FREIGHTLINER REPAIR CENTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP. THIS ISSUE PRESENTS THE DRIVER WITH THE SAME REDUCTION OF DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AS THE BROKEN WIPER ARM (NHTSA RECALL # 16V-532).