Norcold Fridge Door falling off??

[campingfig]

Hi All,
Anyone else in here have a Norcold Fridge door fall off because the tiny plastic bottom hinge broke?

[j-d]

I just found an Amazon ticket from when I bought the Kit I mentioned getting and then returning above.

If it helps anybody, the description reads:

"Norcold 631466 Door Hinge Reinforcement Kit N6D634166"

I think there was mention of a Kit with an "A" suffix. When I spoke to tech support at Norcold, I mentioned the alternative part number and he said they were all the same. Same conversation where he said all the doors were the same, which Ron and I proved with pictures that they are not all the same.

I'm sorry some of us got hurt by these doors. We probably weren't actually lucky, since our door has metal hinges. We load our door and probably shouldn't just as a matter of course. Also convinced Norcold doors (at least ours) are flimsy. They flex to the point that we always press the unhinged corner away from the latch to get the gasket to make up. That's the upper freezer door corner and lower fridge door corner.

[rockhillmanor]

campingfig wrote:
I saw one or two other mentions of a class-action on other web sites. I did read one article where a man almost had his toe severed when the fridge fell on his bare foot.

I am sporting a fat big scar on my left hand where the door almost severed my finger clean off when it came off the one hinge It cut all the way down to bare bone and took part of the bone with it. 😞

My permanent scar of life to prove I am an RV'er!

That nut type thing that allows it to swivel? I spent hours trying to 'screw' it back in using locktite etc only to take a real good look at it it is NOT a screw nor is there a threaded opening for it to. It just sits there and once it comes loose it doesn't ever work again. Until I epoxy'd it to death and the covered that with JB weld.

[kginder]

Link

Here's one link that shows you what I did.

[kginder]

Google Norcold door repair. There are Youtube videos and web sites with info on a cheap, permanent fix all over the place.

I bought an aluminum strip at Home Depot. Painted it black. Drilled a few holes. Epoxied the plastic piece of **** hinge back on. Attached the strip with stainless screws. And to door has held perfectly for over a year. As I said, detailed instructions are all over the web.

Otherwise you're going to have to buy a new door from Norcold for hundreds. And guaranteed it will break again.

[campingfig]

I saw one or two other mentions of a class-action on other web sites. I did read one article where a man almost had his toe severed when the fridge fell on his bare foot. My door fell off when it was empty. And we do not overload the door. The door does have shelves for items to put in it. I am just surprised because my unit functions great and you have this wonderful design of a refrigerator only to put a tiny plastic hinge at the bottom of the door. Makes no sense to me. Especially that this is not been picked up in a lawsuit. And I too am not a litigious person either but researching all of the accounts were people or left on their own to try to glue fix or solve their problem without the door being replaced, even out of warranty, is shocking.

[j-d]

There's a good thread here where ron.dittmer shows what he did with his Norcold doors. The "Kit" form Norcold contains two metal reinforcements for the plastic. One Right, one Left. Most of us use only the one matching how the large fridge door is hung, Right or Left.

The unused reinforcement can do an Upper corner. What Ron did was get two kits and reinforce the small freezer door as well.

I went to reinforce ours, and found that our N811, 2002 vintage, has a different door and hinge arrangement. Worked with Ron to confirm this, sent Kit back. Norcold will tell you the Kit reinforces every door (at least N Series) but actually, ain't true.

I have not tried this, but I'm thinking it'd be helpful to put a shim under the door for travel. Paint stir stick, maybe. If Home Depot's is a little thick, try Lowe's, or too thin, try a piece of the stirrer for 5-gallon... Keep the weight from pounding on the hinge as we bounce down the road.

[DownTheAvenue]

While the hinge is a weak point, loading the door shelves with tons of stuff doesn't help either. With the door loaded and traveling, considerable downward force is exerted on those hinges when going over bumps.

[noplace2]

campingfig wrote:
Did. Norcold wont replace. Shameful. This is a safety concern as it can fall on feet, small children, etc. There are some forums on other site that discuss injuries, etc. . Why was there not a safety recall?

Trust me when I tell you that I am about the least litigious person you're likely to meet. In my less than humble opinion, most lawsuits do nothing other than enhance the attorneys' new boat. BUT, this issue seems like a class action waiting to happen.

[campingfig]

Did. Norcold wont replace. Shameful. This is a safety concern as it can fall on feet, small children, etc. There are some forums on other site that discuss injuries, etc. . I just found out about a hinge kit that is available-wish i knew....meaning problem has been well aware. Why was there not a safety recall?

[Valkyriebush]

The hinges are metal, it breaks out from the door. The upper metal hinge and all.

[GailS]

Unfortunately, it is a known problem. Get in touch with Norcold.

I suppose if you didn't put anything on the door it wouldn't fail but if it is designed to hold cartons and jugs, it should not break.

Our hinge is metal and has not broken but I don't overload it since I heard of the problem.

[rockhillmanor]

Valkyriebush wrote:
Just repaired mine for the second time. Lasted five years on the first repair. Same thing again. Right door, bottom hinge. This time I used epoxy putty and JB weld. Should last at least awhile. My fridge is 13 years old, otherwise no complaints.

X2
Epoxy and JBwelded too! It's still on. AND I now do NOT put anything in the door panel.

IMHO I think all the food stuff and gallon jugs we put in the door is what makes that hinge go south.

[Ivylog]

Yep, my 1200 fell off... sorry plastic mounting.

[Valkyriebush]

Just repaired mine for the second time. Lasted five years on the first repair. Same thing again. Right door, bottom hinge. This time I used epoxy putty and JB weld. Should last at least awhile. My fridge is 13 years old, otherwise no complaints.