TIF-137 – Improperly Secured Battery May Cause Fire – 2022-2024 Tiffin Allegro Bay Motorhomes

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24V-062
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Manufacturer Name : Submission Date :
Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. FEB 01, 2024 NHTSA Recall No. : 24V-062 Manufacturer Recall No. : TIF-137 Manufacturer Information :
Manufacturer Name : Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.
Address : 105 2nd Street NW
PO Box 596 Red Bay AL 35582
Company phone : 999
Population :
Number of potentially involved : 300 Estimated percentage with defect : 100 %
Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2022-2024 Tiffin Allegro Bay Vehicle Type : BUSES, MEDIUM & HEAVY VEHICLES Body Style : OTHER Power Train : DIESEL
Descriptive Information : The recall population includes all floorplans of the Allegro Bay Motorhomes built from 09/14/2021 until 12/07/2023 that contain the standard option battery. The Allegro Bay Motorhomes that are not involved in the recall are equipped with lithium batteries which do not have exposed terminals like the standard batteries. There are 303 motorhomes involved in this recall and 300 of those are located in the United States.
Production Dates : SEP 14, 2021 – DEC 07, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : 4UZADVFC3NCNR7007 End : 4UZADVFC6PCUY8530 ✔ Not sequential Description of Defect :
Description of the Defect : Standard house batteries are shifting position during travel which can allow battery terminals to contact the steel hold down bar.
FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk : If the steel hold down bar contacts the battery terminals there is the
possibility of arcing which could lead to a fire.
Description of the Cause : The battery tray is too large for the size of the standard house batteries and the battery hold down bar does not have a postive lock which may allow the batteries to shift. Identification of Any Warning
that can Occur : Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24V-062 Page 2 Involved Components : Component Name 1 : Steel battery hold down bar Component Description : Bar that holds down batteries Component Part Number : 5130652 Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer
Name : NR Address : NR
NR
Country : NR Chronology :
01/07/2024 – A transport driver delivering a new Allegro Bay reported that the battery box caught on fire and that the unit was disabled. The unit was towed to a service center.
01/08/2024 – Tiffin driver went and picked the unit up from the service center and returned it to Tiffin for repairs and to determine how and why the fire occurred.
01/08/2024 – 02/01/2024 The unit involved was checked by production and engineering to determine the source and cause of the fire. They determined that the batteries shifted during transit and the hold down bar contacted the battery terminals which caused an arc. The batteries do not fit securely into the battery tray so there is the possibility the batteries can shift from side to side. An angle bracket already in use by Tiffin Motorhomes in other applications can be installed to the bottom of the battery tray to secure the batteries and prevent them from moving side to side. In addition, engineering is redesigning the battery hold down bar to have a positive lock so the bar cannot shift from side to side.
02/01/2024 The Safety Committed voted to issue a recall after being informed of the results of the investigation.
Note: 1/15/2024 – 01/19/2024 Tiffin Motorhomes was closed due to snow and ice. Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : For the units involved in the recall, a new battery hold down bar and angle
brackets will be installed to secure the batteries. This work will be completed at no charge to the customer. If owners have paid for the repair prior to the recall being issued, they can submit the invoice for that repair to Tiffin Motorhomes who will reimburse the customer. The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24V-062
Page 3
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production :
The remedy component will have angle brackets installed in the bottom of the battery tray and a new hold down bar that has a positive lock installed. The recalled component will not have the brackets and will contain the battery hold down bar part number 5130652.
Engineering is in the process of designing a new battery hold down bar that will have a positive lock on it that will prevent the bar from shifting. An engineering change notification dated 01/27/2024 added the angle brackets to the battery tray to prevent the batteries from moving side to side. All units that have not yet been invoiced have had a sales hold issued so that they will not be shipped until all the remedy components are installed. A new part number for the newly designed battery hold down bar will be issued after design is completed and that part will be used in future production. Recall Schedule :
Description of Recall Schedule : Tiffin Motorhomes will mail a letter explaining the issue to all dealers and
owners of units involved in the recall. Notification will be mailed no later than April 1, 2024.
Planned Dealer Notification Date : APR 01, 2024 – APR 01, 2024
Planned Owner Notification Date : APR 01, 2024 – APR 01, 2024
* NR – Not Reported

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