Dometic Refer Recall - Possible Fire Hazard -Update 2/13/07

[MELM]

Click here to go directly to Updates.
Update Number 1 Nov 23, 2006
Update Number 2 Dec 5, 2006
Update Number 3 Jan 10, 2007
Update Number 4 Jan 19, 2007 - Recall Instructions - click here: Dometic Recall You need your model and serial numbers.
Update Number 5 Feb 13, 2007 - Added links to new info on the NHTSA website including the info/form for claiming reimbursement for a failure. These are at the end of the post below where all the updates are posted.

Also, edited the below Recall to include the change made prior to the Dec 5 update showing the proposed remedy.

Below is information from the NHTSA website on a recall of certain Dometic refrigerators. This recall is in its very early stages, and there is no resolution in place as of Nov 1, 2006.

From the NHTSA website:

Dometic Recall NHTSA Campaign ID 06E076000

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
DOMETIC / NDR1062 9999
DOMETIC / RM2652 9999
DOMETIC / RM2662 9999
DOMETIC / RM2663 9999
DOMETIC / RM2852 9999
DOMETIC / RM2862 9999
DOMETIC / RM3662 9999
DOMETIC / RM3663 9999
DOMETIC / RM3862 9999
DOMETIC / RM3863 9999

Manufacturer : DOMETIC CORPORATION

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 06E076000 Mfg's Report Date : AUG 28, 2006

Component: EQUIPMENT: RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 926877

Summary:
CERTAIN DOMETIC TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATORS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1997 AND MAY 2003: SERIAL NOS.
713XXXXX THROUGH 752XXXXX;
801XXXXX THROUGH 852XXXXX;
901XXXXX THROUGH 952XXXXX;
001XXXXX THROUGH 052XXXXX;
101XXXXX THROUGH 152XXXXX;
201XXXXX THROUGH 252XXXXX;
301XXXXX THROUGH 319XXXXX,
INSTALLED IN CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE BOILER TUBE WHICH MAY RELEASE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence:
THE RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy:
THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES THAT HAD THE REFRIGERATORS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND DOMETIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE AFTERMARKET REFRIGERATORS. DOMETIC WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY BURNER HOUSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC AT 888-446-5157.

Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

The following is extracted from the notice provided by Dometic to the NHTSA dated 8/26/06:

The potential defect is associated with cooling unit at the back of the refrigeration cabinet.

A fractional percentage of the potentially affected refrigerators have experienced a fatigue crack that may develop in the boiler tube in the area of the weld between the boiler tube and the heater pocket. A fatigue crack may release a sufficient amount of pressurized coolant solution into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present. Dometic's investigation has shown that a simulated release of cooling solution (refrigerant) in the area of the boiler, under certain conditions, could be ignited by the presence of an open flame. A boiler fatigue crack with the loss of cooling solution without ignition would result in a non-operational refrigerator that is not a safety issue. Under certain conditions, the released coolant could ignite and result in a fire. In order to have a fire, at a minimum, all of the following conditions must exist:

1. The refrigerator must be on and normally operating and gas burner must be lit;
2. 'There must be an oversized heating element in the refrigerator;
3. The boiler tube must develop a throughway fatigue crack of a
specific size;
4. There must be a release of the cooling solution at a rate which will
allow the accumulation of the cooling solution at a concentration within its range of flammability; and
5. There must be ignition source (gas flame) present.

If any of these conditions are not present, a release of the cooling solution will not result in a fire.

In April of 1997 Dometic modified the design of the affected refrigerators by increasing the wattage of the heating element from 325 watts to 354 watts. All production of the affected units from April 1997 through May of 2003 utilized the 354 watt heating element. In May of 2003, in order to improve the operating life of the refrigerators, Dometic returned to the use of the 325 watt heating element which it continues to use today. It is now believed that the use of the higher wattage heater contributed to abnormal fatigue in the boiler tube.

The products in question are all refrigerators used in the original manufacture of recreation vehicles or as replacement equipment for recreation vehicles. The total population of refrigerators potentially containing the defect is 926,877. Dometic estimates a potential maximum incident rate of 0.01% related to boiler fatigue cracks that leak and may result in a fire. There have been no incidents of injury or death related to the affected population of Dometic refrigerators.

Dometic became aware of the occurrence of fires which may have involved their products and retained an independent engineering testing laboratory to fully evaluate and investigate any potential defect in their refrigerators which might result in a fire. A number of returned units were analyzed and microscopic fatigue cracks which could release coolant into the area of the burner were identified in the boiler tube metal in the area of the weld between the heater pocket and boiler tube. Tests simulating the cracks were conducted the week of August 18, 2006 and confirmed a possible cause of fire in the refrigerators under certain conditions. These test results prompted the preparation of this notice.

Dometic continues to gather information on the potential defect and will forward additional relevant information as it becomes available.

Dometic has not yet identified a proposed remedy for the potential defect. Dometic will continue a testing program designed to identify and evaluate possible remedies. This evaluation will take place both in the United States and in Sweden. Once a remedy has been identified, Dometic will initiate or participate in a remedy campaign initiated by the original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers who have purchased, sold, and distributed these products. A list of original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers to whom Dometic has sold the potentially defective refrigerators is being prepared and will be provided to the NHTSA upon its
completion.

The following is extracted from the NHTSA response on 9/18/06:

Please provide the following additional information and be reminded of the following requirements:

Dometic must provide an estimated dealer notification date as well as an owner notification date including the day, month, and year. You are required to submit a draft owner notification letter to this office no less than five days prior to mailing it to the customers. Also, copies of all notices, bulletins, dealer notifications, and other communications that relate to this recall, including a copy of the final owner notification letter and any subsequent owner follow-up notification letter(s), are required to be submitted to this office no later than 5 days after they are originally sent (if they are sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or purchaser/owner).

Dometic must file a sample of the envelope which you intend to use to mail the recall notice to owners. The words "SAFETY", "RECALL", "NOTICE" in any order must be printed on the envelope in larger font than the customers name and address.

[n6mhg]

We recently received a 2003 Salem 24' TT from my in-laws as a gift because they wanted us to be able to camp with them and they upgraded to a new 5th wheel. I noticed that the Dometic in our Salem is on the recall list and look at the NHTSA site and found the following. (Hopefully it is more info and I'm not just posting another. It shows info that Dometic plans to get the recall started in Jan. 2007)

Make : DOMETIC Model : RM2852 Build Dates : APR 01, 1997 - MAY 31, 2003
Manufacturer : DOMETIC CORPORATION
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 06E076000 Recall Date : AUG 28, 2006
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 926877
Summary:
CERTAIN DOMETIC TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATORS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1997 AND MAY 2003: SERIAL NOS. 713XXXXX THROUGH 752XXXXX; 801XXXXX THROUGH 852XXXXX; 901XXXXX THROUGH 952XXXXX; 001XXXXX THROUGH 052XXXXX; 101XXXXX THROUGH 152XXXXX; 201XXXXX THROUGH 252XXXXX; 301XXXXX THROUGH 319XXXXX, INSTALLED IN CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE BOILER TUBE WHICH MAY RELEASE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Consequence:
THE RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES THAT HAD THE REFRIGERATORS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND DOMETIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE AFTERMARKET REFRIGERATORS. DOMETIC WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY BURNER HOUSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC AT 888-446-5157.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

[DMax_in_Alaska]

Thats just great...my TT is in storage covered in snow. 😞
I guess I need to get the shovel out. :M

[Halftime]

My 99 Chinook has a Dometic that falls into the recall. I know I won't hear from Chinook but thanks to you folks I'm now on Dometic's list. I dry camp and run on gas quite a bit. Now I need to figure out how to use my rig. Any thoughts?
John

[Texans]

My model #NDR1292 is not on the list, but the ser.#20900139 is. Is this possible that we are not included in recall? Richard :?

[MELM]

The Norcold recall has been on the forums for around 4 years, and is still in the Sticky at the top of Tech Issues on Recalls.

Click here to go directly to the update.

I just added another document that was recently added to the NHTSA website. It is in the Update Reply box (below the original post) and provides some more info on the whole situation.

Mel

[drfife]

keithbennett wrote:
...This is not only an inconvience but a true saftey issue...

How many losses are attributed to the specific problem involved in the Dometic recall?

Obliviously, the incidence is quite rare. Some of the products covered in the recall go back as far as 1997.

They don't need pressure from me to rush a solution.

[rsg33]

I don't think Dometic is stonewalling. For one thing the NHTSA won't let them carry this on too long before a bulletin has to be issued. Also, there are over 900,000 possible refrigerators affected, which means Dometic will be undertaking a massive testing campaign. They will need to determine the exact cause, the exact method of repair, the exact number of units affected, and the mind-boggling task of advising each and every owner. These units go back to 1997.

If it's determined that all 900,000+ units meet the recall criteria (highly unlikely), that may put a major dent in Dometic's ability to maintain solvency. So, I am presuming they are presently making some very tough decisions as to the direction this "recall" will take.

[keithbennett]

It stirkes me that there is a fiar amount of power on this forum. If Dometic wants to ignore or stonewall this issue, we can apply pressure on them AND THERE DISTB CHANNELS by using our numbers. This is not only an inconvience but a true saftey issue. My experience is that big companies can ill afford bad publicity where consumer saftey is concerned.

What do fellow members feel is enough time to give Dometic to respond to the concerns on this issue?

Happy Turkey Day to all

KB

[Dusty_R]

Norcold is also having a recall. Why is it that no one is talking about Norcold? Anyone have a Norcold that is on the recall list?

Dusty R

[Fulltimers]

iguana07 wrote:
I just returned from a Rally that had a Dometic Rep. give a seminar on their refrigerators. I asked about the possible recall and he said he had heard nothing about it, I explained the problem and serial/model #'s and that mine matched, he said Dometic does not have this problem. I could tell that he was uncomfortable with the question. He quickly went on to another question to avoid me trying to pry info out of him. Is Dometic trying to keep this quiet?

I am sure they were told not to talk about it.

[iguana07]

I just returned from a Rally that had a Dometic Rep. give a seminar on their refrigerators. I asked about the possible recall and he said he had heard nothing about it, I explained the problem and serial/model #'s and that mine matched, he said Dometic does not have this problem. I could tell that he was uncomfortable with the question. He quickly went on to another question to avoid me trying to pry info out of him. Is Dometic trying to keep this quiet?
There were about 50 RVers at the seminar and no one had heard anything about it either.

[CrossCountryNom]

Phils wrote:
I think the only fix would be to replace the cooling unit and the company isn't going to do that on so many units.

Phil

It's my understand if there is a safety recall, the FEDS require the manufacture to fix or replace the defective item.

Talk about law suits if someone is killed and the manufacture knows of the problem and doesn't do anything! Much cheaper to fix/repair than having to deal with someone's death...

[CrossCountryNom]

PATTER wrote:

balvert wrote:
Unfortately it does not work for Canadians with postal codes as you have to use a touch tone phone to enter your ZIP code.

I called the number you referenced this morning at 8:30 eastern time. I was not required to use a touch tone phone to enter the zip code. I was prompted to enter my zip code using my voice.

[Phils]

From how I picture this problem from the posts here, replacing the element wouldn't do anything. The problem is a cracked tube where the bung is attached for the heating element, isn't it? Changing the element wouldn't change the bung nor tube. I think the only fix would be to replace the cooling unit and the company isn't going to do that on so many units.

Phil

[Patter]

balvert wrote:
I emailed Dometic and they gave me a number to call for information (1-888-446-5157). It is an automated system that takes your name and phone number. Unfortately it does not work for Canadians with postal codes as you have to use a touch tone phone to enter your ZIP code. So I called them directly and spoke to a gentleman that took my info. Said they were fixing the automated system to allow entry of the Canadian postal codes. He did say that he thought the fix was going to be relatively simple. Only fix I can see would be to replace the element.

"THE 1-888-446-5157 NUMBER NOW ACCEPTS OUR POSTAL CODES"

TERRY