Refrigerator fire reminder

I know many if not most of you are familiar with the Norcold issues but I thought if any are not aware of the safety issues it might save someone a potentially serious safety event.


We arrived yesterday in a commercial campground in Moab, Utah and shortly after pulling into our site we noticed a senior couple removing the bottom refrigerator access cover from their class A RV.  After seeing them repeatedly go inside and then back out to the open panel I asked if I could help.  They said their refrigerator had stopped working 3-4 hours earlier and they had called an RV tech but were doubting he was going to show up.  She had been researching potential issues on the internet and found out how to reset the controls with a magnet but had not been successful in resetting the switch.


Fortunately the RV Tech arrived about that time and begin to diagnose the problem.  Their coach was a 2007 with a Norcold refrigerator.  He found the fridge was equipped with the over temperature thermal cut off system that was part of the safety recall.  He also found some yellowish residue in the cooling compartment.  At that point he refused to do anything more including resetting the switch for fear of fire liability.  He recommended replacing the refrigerator with a residential unit which the owners agreed and allowed him to order it for replacement in a couple of days.


He showed them this video which is eye opening. [size=78%]https://www.rvtravel.com/norcold-refrigerators-recalled-for-spontaneously-catching-fire/[/size]


Anyone that is using one of the refrigerators that are part of this recall should make themselves fully knowledgeable before resetting the safety switch or perform any other repair work.

1200, 1201, 1210 and 1211, 4 door refrigerators with cooling unit serial numbers ranging from 700000 to 13085759. 

The defect is a potential cooling unit leak caused during AC electric mode operation. If a leak occurs, the refrigerator's cooling performance will deteriorate and a yellow powder residue will be evident at the cooling unit's heating element. Because extended operation of a leaking cooling unit in the AC electric mode may result in a fire, immediate repair.

That wouldnt fit in my little 2350. Mine is a N621,  Later model, serial 8601XXX , but evidently earlier models HAD a recall -
https://www.rvbasics.com/rv-press-release/Norcold-Extends-Refrigerator-Recall.html

Norcold has voluntarily recalled N841, N821, N641, N621 and 1082 gas/electric refrigerators built in 1999. Affected models have a cooling unit serial number (found on the solution chamber and viewed through the refrigerator vent door outside the RV) from 1038000-1099000.

https://norcold.com/recall-information/

1200, 1201, 1210, 1211 Models

The Norcold, Inc. refrigerators listed below have been recalled.

It is important to implement this safety enhancement to prevent an unsafe elevation in the temperature of the cooling unit should the unit fail in operation. This enhancement seeks to minimize the risk of injury or death due to fire.

Norcold Inc. has decided to recall certain 1200, 1201, 1210 and 1211 model gas/electric refrigerators with serial numbers from 315525 to 13088811, non-consecutively. The refrigerator’s model and serial number are located inside the fresh food compartment. These refrigerators may have cooling units with a cooling unit serial number between 700000 to 13085759. This is a new recall campaign to include all 1200, 1201, 1210 and 1211 models.

Even if your refrigerator was repaired as part of a previous recall, it is necessary to have it repaired again to minimize the risk of injury or death due to fire.

If you have one of these refrigerator models, use the following procedure:

Identify and write down the refrigerator model. If it is a Norcold 1200, 1201, 1210 and 1211 model, go to step 2.
Identify and write down the refrigerator serial number. If the serial number falls in the range of 315525 and 13088811, go to step 3.
Identify and write down the cooling unit serial number. If the serial number falls in the range of 700000 and 13085759, go to step 4.
Call your dealer immediately.
The installation of the High-Temperature Sensor will be at no cost to you.

Owners of recalled refrigerators should NOT operate their refrigerator until it can be professionally repaired by your dealer or a Norcold authorized service center.

If you have one of the recalled refrigerators and you:

Currently reside in the RV, you should immediately:
Set the refrigerator controls to “OFF”.
Unplug the refrigerator through the service vent on the outside of the vehicle.
Contact your dealer, a Norcold authorized service center or Norcold’s Recall Center at 1-800-767-9101 as soon as possible to get assistance.
Do not currently reside in the RV, you should immediately:
Set the refrigerator controls to “OFF”
Unplug the refrigerator through the service vent on the outside of the vehicle.
Disconnect from shore power.
Contact your dealer, a Norcold authorized service center or Norcold’s Recall Center at 1-800-767-9101 as soon as possible to get assistance.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in a fire causing injury or death.

The video mentions a Norcold N621 which we have however our 2016 is outside the date range mentioned.  In any case this and other reasons will encourage me to consider a residential compressor style fridge should ours need replacement. 


Having spent the last month in National Park, National Forest, and BLM campsites in the Rocky Mountains and trying to get within fridge leveling specs in some challenging sites a residential unit would ease my mind that I am not damaging my fridge.

In the 12 years we owned our 2007 PC, I have never had the outside fridge panel off.  It seems smart to do an annual inspection.  I found many pictures of the residue, this being typical.  It is easy to inspect for.


Based on that video, Phoenix Cruisers with the typical 6 cubic feet Norcold fridge that was manufactured between 1-1-2009 thru 12-31-2013 are being recalled.    For PC owners with a PC model year between 2009 and 2014, chances are, you are affected.  Phoenix might buy fridges in volume, having a stash to draw from, so you can't go by the model year or build date of your PC.

I was 900 miles away from home when I read this post about my fridge possibly catching on fire!

So just to save anyone else from freaking out over their fridge when they're too far from home to do anything about it, I thought I'd pass along what I learned when I called my dealer to get it fixed.

This recall was published years ago.  Apparently, the recall came out practically the same year those fridges were sold.  He said it's easy to tell if your fridge is already fixed.  There will be a white disk-like gadget with two red wires coming out of it, riveted to the silverish tin vertical heat stack thing on the right, when you look at the fridge from the backside.  Here's a picture of mine.