The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·12V048000·Announced 2012-02-08

TIFFIN Motorhomes Recalled for Exhaust Clamp Fire Risk

TIFFIN is recalling 2011-2013 Phaeton and Zephyr motorhomes because a faulty exhaust clamp bolt can fracture, causing hot gases to vent and creating a fire risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural defect in the exhaust system that creates a risk of fire and potential road hazards, meeting the criteria for a Severe (Score 4) classification due to significant injury/property-damage potential.

Plain-English summary

TIFFIN Motorhomes, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2011, 2012, and 2013 Phaeton and Zephyr recreational vehicles equipped with a Cummins ISB, ISC, ISL, or ISX diesel engine. The recall addresses a defect in the V-band clamp assembly used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC)/diesel particulate filter (DPF).

The clamp assembly includes a T-bolt that can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. If the T-bolt fractures, the clamp may loosen, causing the inlet or outlet sections attached to the DOC/DPF housing to disconnect. This disconnection allows hot exhaust gases to vent before exiting the tailpipe, creating a risk of combustion and fire. In some applications, if both clamps fail, the DOC/DPF housing may detach completely, creating a road hazard.

TIFFIN is working with Cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized Cummins dealers free of charge. Owners may contact Cummins at 1-812-377-5000 or TIFFIN at 256-356-8661. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
TIFFIN ZEPHYR, PHAETON
Brand
TIFFIN
Manufacturer
TIFFIN MOTORHOMES, INC.
Category
Vehicle — Motorhome
Hazard
Affected units
13

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • ZEPHYR
  • PHAETON

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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