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.

[Popsie]

WilleyB wrote:
Hi Popsie mine is a Dometic RM3662 and it has one heating element for 120 volts
Yours is most likely a three way model 12v,120vac and LP gas. One heater is for operating on 12v and the other for 120vac operation. On LP gas operation the heaters are not used.
Your refridgerator, the NDR 1292 doesn't appear to be on the recall list

Cheers Willis

PS there are also some of those 3 way models on the recall list RM 3663 and RM 3863 both of those have the two heating elements, but it's the 120 volt heater that is of some concern.

Thanks!

Mine doesn't have the 12v option though. The two heaters are both on the 120v schematic.

My concern is that the recall list may not be all possible refrigerator types that might have the problem, but only those that have actually failed. It doesn't seem to me that Dometic has been readily forthcoming with full and open disclosure 🙂

[WilleyB]

Hi Popsie mine is a Dometic RM3662 and it has one heating element for 120 volts
Yours is most likely a three way model 12v,120vac and LP gas. One heater is for operating on 12v and the other for 120vac operation. On LP gas operation the heaters are not used.
Your refridgerator, the NDR 1292 doesn't appear to be on the recall list

Cheers Willis

PS there are also some of those 3 way models on the recall list RM 3663 and RM 3863 both of those have the two heating elements, but it's the 120 volt heater that is of some concern.

[Popsie]

My fridge is a Dometic NDR 1292.

Inside the door and on the back of the unit it says that it draws 3.5 amps.

Both the mechanical drawing and the electric schematic show two separate heating elements (which are inside two separate parallel pipes) above the gas flame inside the big pipe heated by the gas and leading up to the roof vent.

It seems that each heating element can't draw more than half the total current, so they are about 1.75 amps apiece.

On the schematics for any of you that have a model that's been listed so far, do you show one or two heating elements?

[WilleyB]

But what about the fact that the fridge is no longer cooling?

That my friend you will have to pay for. The higher wattage element will continue work the chamber, but when it ruptures ignition and fire will/should be prevented.
That is why I'll wait until after the modification to do my own fix to prevent the over working of the metal.
Consider this, when turned on, the high wattage element will reach set temperature in less time than the lower wattage element. Unfortunately there is a lag between the set point and the final temperature. The energy already imparted the element will cause the temperature to continue rising after the current is removed, (sorry but this characteristic of temperature control is a fact of life, and temperature controllers to compensate for this are quite expensive and I don't expect to find one in a Dometic refrigerator.)
The rate at which such devices turn on and off would be determined by the heating element. The lower wattage element will of course act in the same way, however it will not reach the maximum temperatures generated by the higher wattage element, nor will it cycle as often. (it will be on for longer periods of time) Therefore the metal housing will not be worked as much.

Puddles wrote:

Please explain how putting an extra shield around the burner keeps the refrigerant from leaking out and the refrigerator stop cooling. Or is this fix that Dometic's proposing only to stop a fire from occurring?

This is a good point, one of which I'm considering. First and foremost is the loss of refrigerant is a small loss when compared to the loss of one's RV and personal effects. However I don't want my trip ruined because of a malfunctioned fridge. I have considered that if the new housing is a snug enough fit that it may also have some control on the expansion during the heating cycle, if not then the refrigerator will still be prone to failure because of the high wattage element but hopefully safe enough from catching fire.
In closing, if the Model number and the serial number are on the list, phone the toll free number with your information to receive the information packet. The sticker on mine also reads 2.7 amp actually this means very little, it's only a sticker.
Although it may not be worth much, it's only my opinion 🙂

Cheers Willis

[stevenal]

Puddles wrote:

Please explain how putting an extra shield around the burner keeps the refrigerant from leaking out and the refrigerator stop cooling. Or is this fix that Dometic's proposing only to stop a fire from occurring?

I have no inside knowledge here, but I assume that seals are included that will contain the gas. I believe the word was "burner housing" rather than "shield."

[Popsie]

rldcjd wrote:
I have matching M/Ns and S/Ns that are in the recall. Already called and left my info at Dometic. My main worry is that I had a seasonal site last year and left shore power hooked all summer and the fridge running on 120v power. I will be taking my Roo and going to Florida for a week over Christmas and will have the fridge on LP while traveling.

If I am reading some of the posts regarding this recall correctly, I may be placing myself in the scenario they are worried about. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I did post this on another Dometic Recall thread, but it looks like there are only a few posts to that thread so I am hoping to get more input on here.

Thanks
RLD

According to the Dometic information posted, to get a fire, you need to have a certain leak in the refrigerant system plus an ignition source (as in running fridge on propane).

So it seems that it would be safer for you not to run the fridge on LP while travelling, or when parked until the whole mess is sorted out.

[Grillmeister]

Puddles wrote:
Please explain how putting an extra shield around the burner keeps the refrigerant from leaking out and the refrigerator stop cooling. Or is this fix that Dometic's proposing only to stop a fire from occurring?

This is what I have been thinking, great so they prevent the fire with the Band-Aid fix. But what about the fact that the fridge is no longer cooling?

This post is from someone whose fridge has already failed to cool and contacted Dometic with unsatisfactory results.

[rldcjd]

I have matching M/Ns and S/Ns that are in the recall. Already called and left my info at Dometic. My main worry is that I had a seasonal site last year and left shore power hooked all summer and the fridge running on 120v power. I will be taking my Roo and going to Florida for a week over Christmas and will have the fridge on LP while traveling.

If I am reading some of the posts regarding this recall correctly, I may be placing myself in the scenario they are worried about. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I did post this on another Dometic Recall thread, but it looks like there are only a few posts to that thread so I am hoping to get more input on here.

Thanks
RLD

[Puddles]

Steven wrote:
I repeat: The microscopic damage that precedes the catastrophic failure may have already occurred. Please let Dometic fix this the right way.

Please explain how putting an extra shield around the burner keeps the refrigerant from leaking out and the refrigerator stop cooling. Or is this fix that Dometic's proposing only to stop a fire from occurring?

[WilleyB]

For safety sake I'd still like to have the modification done.

I agree.

[stevenal]

I repeat: The microscopic damage that precedes the catastophic failure may have already occured. Please let Dometic fix this the right way.

[WilleyB]

Phils wrote:
I'll accept your computation of the proper resistance value.

Please share your futher findings.

Phil

Hi Phil, well I did do the resistance/wattage figures on paper and I'm not overly pleased with the results. Before going through much experimentation, I may check out the cost of replacing the heating element, and also how much trouble it is to replace. If that isn't practical cost wise I'll check out using a 40 watt lamp. Actually I'll probably do both and post the results. For safety sake I'd still like to have the modification done.

Cheers Willis

[Phils]

Wow Willis!!

Your post I'm wishfully classifying under "geez, why didn't I think of that??"!

I'll accept your computation of the proper resistance value.

Please share your futher findings.

Phil

[WilleyB]

WilleyB wrote:
I'll have to have a look this weekend to see if something for the interim can be done without upsetting the professionals and being accused of tampering

Well the weekend is past and I had a look. It would be a simple matter to add a resistor (or light bulb) to the 120 volt circuit, just cut one wire to the heater and add the resistance in series. The 120 volt wires come from the 12 volt control box and I don't recommend opening that, fo r now. (I'll look at it after the modification is completed.)
Having said that I certainly don't recommend doing anything until after the Dometic fix is completed so as to save any accusations, and voiding of warranties etc.

Cheers Willis

[keithbennett]

Make : DOMETIC Model : NDR1062
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


That's a lot of units........