TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR AND 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS

Nov 17, 2009 — Recall Campaign #09V443000

TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR AND 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 1, 2001, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 528 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

09V443000

Manufacturer:	Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.
Recall date:	November 17, 2009
NHTSA Campaign #:	09V443000
Units affected:	528

Description:: TIFFIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR AND 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 1, 2001, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.
Consequeces:: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Corrective action:: TIFFIN IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND TIFFIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE BY NORCOLD. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-027. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.
Notes:: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Affects the following:

2002 TIFFIN ALLEGRO BUS Complaints
ON MAY 19, 2008 WE PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FROM GANIN TIRE IN MIDDLETOWN, NY FOR OUR MOTORHOME. ON MAY 30 WE DROVE TO MASSACHUSETTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, MY HUSBAND NOTICED CRACKS IN ONE OF THE TIRES. UPON CHECKING WITH OUR TIRE INFORMATION BROCHURE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE, MY HUSBAND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRES MAY, IN FACT, BE 10 YEARS OLD, ALTHOUGH WE PURCHASED THEM 2 WEEKS AGO AND THE INVOICE ALSO NOTED THAT THEY WERE NEW. WHILE WE WERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. MY HUSBAND CALLED MICHELIN AND THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE DOT NUMBERS INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE BUILT IN 1998. AS WE WERE DRIVING TO GET BACK HOME TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINATING DEALER FOR THE TIRES, THE BACK RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT THE INNER SIDEWALL. WE GOT OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. WE HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TIRE WHICH WAS INSTALLED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN WE DROVE TO THE NEAREST MICHELIN DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL TIRES WE DRY-ROTTEN, THE BELT IN THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS RUSTED AND THE DEALER IN MASSACHUSETTS INDICATED THAT ALL TIRES WERE USED AS THE TREAD DEPTH INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN WAY BEYOND 300 MILES (APPROX 11/32 TREAD-DEPTH AND MICHELIN INDICATED THAT NEW TREAD DEPTH IS 16.4/32). WE REPLACED ALL TIRES AND WE KEPT ALL TIRES THAT WERE TAKEN OFF. WE ARE ALSO CONTACTING MICHELIN MANAGEMENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WAS NOT A FAILURE OF A MICHELIN TIRE, BUT A FAILURE OF THE DEALER BY SELLING OLD, USED TIRES AS NEW. *TR;
2003 TIFFIN ALLEGRO Complaints
SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKES ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. HAD TO PULL TO SHOULDER AND SCRAPE ALONG UNTIL SLOWED ENOUGH TO STOP WITH PARKING BRAKE. CALIPERS FROZE CAUSING BOIL OVER OF FLUIDS THAT BURNED BRAKE HOSES AND SENSORS.;
2003 TIFFIN ALLEGRO BAY Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TIFFIN ALLEGRO BAY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP AND SMOKE APPEARED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE CALIPERS STICKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF FOUR CALIPERS. THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. *UPDATED 10/20/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB;
2003 TIFFIN PHAETON Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TIFFIN PHAETON. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR HOME AND TOWING A VEHICLE BY THE FLAT TOW, A POTHOLE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED SWAYED AND THE MOTOR HOME WAS UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.;