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Campaign 11V082 Posted February 8, 2011 10,683 units

1997-2011 Tiffin RV Recall 11V082: Refrigerator Fire

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 3, 2026

Recall 11V082 affects 10,683 1997-2011 Tiffin Bay, Phaeton, Zephyr, Bus, Allegro, and Star motorhomes with Norcold refrigerator shutoff delays. Free Norcold remedy.

Tiffin is recalling 10,683 1997-2011 Bay, Phaeton, Zephyr, Bus, Allegro, and Star motorhomes equipped with 1200-series Norcold refrigerators because the refrigerator shutoff sensor or thermal switch does not cut power fast enough when high temperatures are detected. A delayed shutoff during a hydrogen gas leak can fail to prevent a fire, and the dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The recalled Tiffin motorhomes use 1200-series Norcold refrigerators. In normal operation, the refrigerator keeps food cold while built-in protection watches for high heat and cuts electrical power to the refrigerator when temperatures rise enough to create a fire risk.

On affected units, that shutoff protection does not react fast enough. Some refrigerators rely on a sensing algorithm, and others rely on a thermal switch, but the problem is the same: the device does not stop power quickly enough after high temperature is detected. That delay leaves the refrigerator energized when it should be shut down, which raises the risk of a fire.

There is no warning sign before failure. Owners should treat any included Tiffin motorhome as needing the recall repair, even if the refrigerator appears to run normally.

Who's affected?

Spans the Bay, Phaeton, Zephyr, Bus, Allegro, and Star motorhome lines from 1997 through 2011, all tied to recreational vehicle or trailer equipment.

2006 Tiffin Bay Recreational vehicle/trailer
2011 Tiffin Phaeton Recreational vehicle/trailer
2007 Tiffin Phaeton Recreational vehicle/trailer
2001 Tiffin Phaeton Recreational vehicle/trailer
2004 Tiffin Phaeton Recreational vehicle/trailer
Units affected10,683

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.

What's the safety risk?

A hydrogen gas leak at the refrigerator can create high heat, and the shutoff system can fail to cut power fast enough to prevent a fire. Treat refrigerator heat, gas smell, or other unusual operation as a reason to stop using it and call for recall service. Repair will be free at any franchised Tiffin dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 1997-2011 Tiffin Bay, Phaeton, Zephyr, Bus, Allegro, or Star recreational vehicle is included in this recall.
  2. Watch for owner instructions from Tiffin or Norcold before scheduling the refrigerator remedy.
  3. Contact Norcold at 1-800-767-9101 with questions about the 1200-series refrigerator repair.
  4. Schedule the free Norcold refrigerator remedy that addresses delayed power shutoff during high-temperature refrigerator conditions.
  5. Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 11V082 when you call.

What happens at the repair

Tiffin and Norcold identify affected owners and direct them to a Norcold dealer for the refrigerator remedy. The filing does not describe the exact repair step, but it ties the free remedy to the affected 1200-series Norcold refrigerator shutoff protection. Because the remedy status is not listed here, confirm availability before arranging service. The dealer remedy will be free once available, and the repair path runs through Norcold dealers rather than a standard Tiffin service visit.

Timeline

February 8, 2011 NHTSA published the recall
February 17, 2011 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 11V082?

Recall 11V082 covers 10,683 1997-2011 Tiffin motorhomes equipped with 1200-series Norcold refrigerators. The shutoff sensor or thermal switch does not stop power fast enough when high temperatures are detected from a hydrogen gas leak, which can lead to a fire.

What should I do if my 1997-2011 Tiffin Bay, Phaeton, Zephyr, Bus, Allegro, or Star is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 11V082. If it is, contact a Norcold dealer for the free refrigerator remedy. Reference recall 11V082 and Norcold defect report 10E-049 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost. Tiffin's remedy instructions tell owners to contact Norcold dealers for the refrigerator remedy free of charge.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is fire. The refrigerator shutoff system is meant to cut power when high temperatures are detected from a hydrogen gas leak, but this recall says the response time is not sufficient to prevent a fire.

What if I bought this Tiffin motorhome used?

The free recall remedy still applies. Ownership history does not remove recall coverage, and older motorhomes often change hands before an owner letter reaches the current driver. Check your VIN, then call a Norcold dealer with recall 11V082 if your motorhome is included.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V082000
Tiffin customer service1-800-767-9101
NHTSA recall #11V082
NHTSA recall # (full)11V082000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →