Recall 12V228 covers 2 2012 Tiffin Phaeton motorhomes whose 3030 brake chambers fail park-brake requirements. Dealers install improved brake chambers before sale.
Tiffin is recalling 2 2012 Phaeton recreational vehicles built on Spartan chassis because their air brake systems do not meet park brake and draw bar requirements. The park brake can fail to hold the coach in place, allowing a rollaway that strikes a bystander or causes a crash without warning; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The air brake system on the 2012 Tiffin Phaeton uses compressed air to apply and release the service brakes. These motorhomes were built on a Spartan chassis and equipped with 3030 brake chambers. A brake chamber turns air pressure into mechanical force at the wheel-end brake hardware, so the brakes apply with the needed clamping force.
In NHTSA campaign 12V228, the issue is a parking-brake compliance problem. Tiffin reported that these motorhomes do not meet the park brake and draw bar requirements for federal air brake systems. The filing does not name a separate broken subpart or root cause. The defect is the brake chamber and chassis setup failing the required parking-brake standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not expect a dashboard light, noise, or change in pedal feel from this recall description.
Who's affected?
| 2012 Tiffin Phaeton | brake system |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2 |
Not every 2012 Tiffin Phaeton motorhome is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
The park brake can fail to hold the Phaeton in place. The vehicle can roll away, strike a bystander, or cause a crash without warning. Use extra care when parking and keep people clear until the brake chambers are replaced. Repair will be free at any franchised Tiffin dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Tiffin Phaeton is included in this recall.
- Contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661 to confirm whether the improved brake chambers were installed before sale.
- Reference recall number 12V228 when you call or speak with a franchised Tiffin service location.
- Schedule the improved brake-chamber installation that corrects the park-brake holding problem.
- Avoid parking on slopes until the brake-chamber repair is confirmed complete.
What happens at the repair
Tiffin reported that the affected Phaeton motorhomes had not been sold when the recall remedy was filed, and dealers holding those vehicles were notified. At the dealer, a Tiffin technician installs improved brake chambers before the vehicle is sold. The dealer repair will be free once the vehicle is presented for the recall work. No owner reimbursement process is listed for this campaign, so keep any related service paperwork and ask the dealer to confirm the recall work is complete before delivery.
Timeline
| April 19, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
|---|---|
| May 22, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V228?
Recall 12V228 covers 2 2012 Tiffin Phaeton recreational vehicles built on a Spartan chassis with 3030 brake chambers. The air brake system does not meet park brake and draw bar requirements, so the park brake can fail to hold the vehicle in place. Dealers install improved brake chambers before sale.
What should I do if my 2012 Tiffin Phaeton is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 12V228. If it is, contact a Tiffin dealer and reference recall 12V228. Tiffin told dealers holding the vehicles about the recall, and the improved brake chambers are installed before sale.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the safety recall repair to be completed at no cost. For recall 12V228, the dealer repair is installation of improved brake chambers before sale. You can also contact Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661 with the campaign number.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is rollaway without warning. If the park brake does not hold the motorhome in place, the vehicle can move and strike a bystander or cause a crash. The fix is improved brake chambers installed through the dealer before sale.
Are there warning signs before the park brake problem?
No warning sign is listed before failure. Recall 12V228 says the vehicle can roll away without warning if the park brake does not hold. If your VIN is included, keep the vehicle secured and arrange the free brake chamber repair through the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V228000 |
|---|---|
| Tiffin customer service | 1-256-356-8661 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V228 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V228000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →