Fire Hazard - Appliance Recalls - Norcold, Samsung and more

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There are five recalls that are still active for appliances that were installed in or may be used in RV's that are potential fire hazards.

I've assembled the basic information in this thread, with links to previous threads. Click on the title below to go to the basic info with links to more information.

Norcold Refrigerators

Samsung Microwave Ovens

Mr. Heater Heaters

First Alert Smoke & CO Detector Recall

Dometic Refrigerator Recall

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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 HAS NOT YET PROVIDED THE AGENCY WITH A NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY SCHEDULE. 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.

Link to the original topic: Dometic Refrigerator Recall

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First Alert Smoke and CO Detector Recall

Link to the original topic:

http://www.firstalert.com/OnelinkRecall.aspx

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MR. Heater recall

While not OEM equipment in RV’s, these are used by many and are sold by Camping World.

Mr. Heater, Inc. is recalling certain Big Buddy (Model MH18B) and the Tough Buddy (Model MH18B) portable propane heaters.

The valve on the propane heaters can leak, posing a fire hazard if an ignition source is present.

Mr Heater Recall

CPSC Recall

Here’s a link to the thread in Tech Issues on the recall: MR. Heater recall

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Samsung RV Microwaves recalled

NHTSA Recall No. 04E031
Samsung Microwave Oven Models MR1031WB, MR1032BB, MR1033SB, MR1352BB, and MR1351WB

On approximately 117,157 models of Samsung microwaves manufactured between May 2000 and September 2003, there is a defective membrane panel. An electrical short can occur, causing the oven to activate without pressing any key pads. This could result in excessive heat, smoke or possibly a fire.

Samsung will notify its customers and repair the panel. In the meantime, consumers should unplug their microwave, if possible. If the consumer is unable to unplug the microwave, they should leave the microwave oven door ajar until the membrane panel is replaced. Consumers should never use the microwave oven for storage or leave any towels, paper, cloth or other products in the microwave after use. Owners may contact Samsung at 800-932-3837 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Auto Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. To search NHTSA’s database of recalls, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

From the NHTSA website:

Make : SAMSUNG MICROWAVE Model : MR5493G01 Build Dates : MAY 01, 2000 -: SEP 22, 2003
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 03E044000 Recall Date
Component: EQUIPMENT
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 183897

Summary:
SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS INSTALLED IN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FOR MICROWAVE COOKING, MODELS MR5491G, MR5491G01, MR5492W, MR5494W01, MR5493G, MR5493G01, MR5494W, MR7491G, MR7491G01, MR7492W, MR7492W01, MR7493G, MR7493G01, MR6698WB, MR6699GB, AND MR6699SB, SOLD BY SAMSUNG FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12, 2003. THESE UNITS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE MEMBRANE PANEL. THESE MICROWAVE OVENS HAVE THE ONE TOUCH INSTANT COOK FUNCTION SUCH AS POPCORN, POTATO, ETC.

Consequence:
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy:
SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, COMSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE MEMBRANE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAMSUNG SERVICE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AT 800-932-3837.

Notes:
ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Note: new models added in recall (posted 06/05/04)

* NHTSA Recall No. 04E031
Samsung Microwave Oven Models MR1031WB, MR1032BB, MR1033SB, MR1352BB, and MR1351WB

Location of the sticker with the model and serial numbers:

The sticker is on the right-side door jamb near the button that opens the door. It's dark gray with black lettering and is easy to miss. You must open the door to see it.

The numbers you need are:

Samsung Service Division: 1 800-932-3837.

Maytag was contracted to do the repairs, and these numbers were posted:

Maytag: 1 866 461-2289 (This is the special number Samsung has setup to deal with this recall)

Maytag service (the guy standing by the phone waiting....): 1-800-462-9824

For Canada:
Campaign ID # 03E04400
From an e-mail from Samsung, Canada:
“Please visit www.samsung.ca then chose Service Locations.
This is mandatory repair, they will need to replace the keypad of your microwave.
Thank you for your patience,
Yves Pilon
Support Specialist
Samsung Canada”

A link to the thread from Tech Issues on the Samsung recall: Updated - New Models Added - 6/5/04 - 183,697 Samsung RV Microwaves recalled

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Norcold Refrigerator Recall

This recall began in 2002.

Norcold Frig Recall-Receive Free $50 Gas Card. 2 door built 5/99-11/99 and 4 door built 12/96-3/99. (Offer applies ONLY TO REPAIRS made after March 21, 2005.)

2 Door Models - N841, N821, N641, N621, N1082 Cooling unit serial #s 1038000-1099000

4 Door Models - 1200LR and 1200LRIM Cooling unit serial #s 700000-1008700

If your cooling unit's serial number falls within the appropriate sequence for your refrigerators model number, stop using the refrigerator, unplug it immediately and call Norcold 1-800-767-9101.


There are a number of other models that are being recalled, and they are identified on the Norcold Recall Site. Some models go back to 1987 production.

The other recalls are for a gas control or, on very small size frig, the LP line tee; a failure could result in an lp gas leak, and a fire.

Here's a link to the Norcold Recall Site: Norcold Recalls.

A link to the latest thread on the recalls: Norcold Frig Recall-Built12/96-11/99-Receive Free $50 GasCard.

Edited to update the Norcold Recall website URL.