Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2018 Tiffin Phaeton peaked in 2020, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2018 Tiffin Phaeton
Other, diesel, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jan 31, 2020 to Mar 23, 2023.
Recall campaigns covering this model year553k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints31.5 times the median 2018 other
Severity index33.32018 others average 4.1
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
33% of complaints about the 2018 Tiffin Phaeton name engine and cooling
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
5 recall campaigns cover the 2018 Tiffin Phaeton
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21V-680 | Nov 5, 2021 | Sofa seat belts may not have been installed correctly, which could result in unsecured passengers | Seat belts | 10,409 | Repair or modification |
| 21V-306 | Apr 30, 2021 | Sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak | Fuel system | 3,198 | Part replacement |
| 19V-228 | Mar 22, 2019 | Alternating current electrical wires may have been improperly secured in the Energy Management Module, causing increased electrical resistance | Electrical system | 2,289 | Repair or modification |
| 18V-341 | May 25, 2018 | Entry door on these vehicles may have been improperly assembled, allowing the door to open while the vehicle is moving | Structure | 1,223 | Repair or modification |
| 17V-841 | Dec 22, 2017 | These motorhomes are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the… | Equipment | 36,005 | Part replacement |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2018 Tiffin Phaeton
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
3 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Mar 23, 2023Failure Jan 7, 2023merritt island, FLSidewall
tire size 275/80/22.5 Driving down highway 301, driver side steer tire’s side wall blew out with no warning. My motor home made a hard left, luckily no one was in that fast lane. I managed to recover control and started to head to the shoulder of the road. Before I could reach the shoulder the rim cut the tire and threw it off the rim and into the highway. This put my life , my wife and anyone on the highway’s life in severe danger!!! I called michelin and their rep inspected the tire and felt the tire was run low. I completely disagree. All tires were checked that day and if this steer tire was low it would have pulled to the left!!
NHTSA complaint 11513495 - Filed Sep 3, 2021Failure Aug 8, 202122,000 milesTrussville, ALEngine and engine coolingCrash
The contact owns a 2018 Tiffin Phaeton RV. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the dashboard instrument cluster lights suddenly began to flash off and on and the Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF) sensor light remained illuminated before the vehicles decelerated independently to 5 MPH. The vehicle was driven to a nearby service center(unknown) and the Diesel Emission Fluid sensor was replaced, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 22,000.
NHTSA complaint 11431608 - Filed Jan 31, 2020Failure Oct 11, 2018Katy, TXWheels
I SAW A POST ON THE TIFFIN RV FORUM REGARDING THE VALVE STEM STABILIZERS THAT FREIGHTLINER PROVIDED ON RECENT RV CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW STYLE RIM. I HAVE A 2018 TIFFIN COACH AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE SOON AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS RUBBING ON THE CHROME WHEEL AND IN FACT HAD RUBBED OFF THE CHROME DOWN TO BARE METAL. I TOOK IT TO BAY DIESEL IN RED BAY, AL. AND THEY REPLACE THE VALVE STEMS. THEY SHOWED ME ON ONE WHERE IT HAD ALMOST RUBBED THROUGH AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AIR LEAK IF I HAD DRIVEN IT MANY MORE MILES. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WARRANTABLE AND I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT STEMS. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SOON AFTER AND WHEN I CALLED FREIGHTLINER, THE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT COME UP WITH A CORRECTION AS YET. MFR BUILD DATE WAS 4/1/2018.
NHTSA complaint 11307150
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
9 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- MCD-009 Jun 9, 2025 · Other
Stopped using the lights we had been using due to expense. Replaced with these, but these new lights have to be wired in instead of just clicking in. These are the instructions to wire in. - CSA-036 Apr 19, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
Faulty DEF sensors that due to shortage were not replaced. Instead engine software was temporarily modified to account for continued operation with a faulty sensor until replacement sensors were available. This campaign will install an engine control modu… - CSA-11 Feb 4, 2022 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
Tiffin Motorhomes was notified by Daimler Trucks North America on behalf of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation of a defect that exists on specific model year 2017 - 2022 Freightliner Custom Chassis X-Line chassis manufactured February 20, 2017 through … - CSA-009 Oct 8, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
FCCC Motorhome Chassis Rear PDM’s FL-856 - CSA-004 Aug 4, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
Customer Service Advisory for Cummins Recall #21E032 and Freightliner Recall #21V-326 for High Pressure Fuel Rail - Freightliner chassis units built on by Tiffin. - TIFF 12-2019 Jan 15, 2020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
There is the possibility the water filter housing is installed incorrectly. If a motorhome has the water filter housing installed incorrectly, there is the possibility of excess air in the water lines. - SB-57 Jan 25, 2018 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
There is the possibility that the inverter may stop charging the house batteries after one charging sequence even with the motorhome plugged into shore power. This could lead to the house batteries not charging while plugged into shore power. To repair th… - SB-56 Jan 25, 2018 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
There is the possibility that the merge solenoid may not connect the chassis batteries to the house batteries when the engine is running. This would accur when the house battery voltage is too low. This could cause the house batteries not to charge while … - Letter to dealer Nov 10, 2017 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
This was a letter to our dealers we sent out when we first heard of the Kidde fire extinguisher recall, even though it was still unofficial. We knew our coaches on the dealers' lots contained Kidde and could not be sold unreplaced.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.