Norcold Refrigerator Fires

What NHTSA investigated

On October 7, 2010 Norcold, Inc. (Norcold) notified the NHTSA that it had decided certain 1200 series refrigerators, manufactured between January 1, 2003, and October 6, 2010, contain a safety related defect.Norcold stated that certain refrigerators contain either a sensing algorithm or a thermal switch to interrupt power to the refrigerator when it detects high temperatures that could lead to a fire.Norcold intends to install a thermocouple to improve the response time of this high temperature detection and further reduce the possibility of fire within these units.Should a fire occur within a refrigerator installed into a recreational vehicle, both personal injury and property damage are possible.This issue was assigned recall number 10E-049.On December 14, 2010, the Recall Management Division (RMD) mailed an information request (IR) letter to Norcold requesting a list of customers who purchased the same or similar defective refrigerators.Norcold responded to RMD's IR letter on December 21, 2010, with a list of companies that were further sold this equipment.On January 3, 2011, RMD mailed IR letters to 55 companies from Norcold's customer list known to manufacture vehicles or alter new vehicles.On August 8, 2011, RMD mailed another IR to 6 companies that did not respond to the first request for information.In total, 39 companies filed responses with RMD.Of those companies that responded, 23 filed Defect Reports with NHTSA and conducted safety recalls for their affected vehicles.12 companies responded that they did not install the defective refrigerators into new motor vehicles.One company, Gulfstream Coach Inc., filed their Part 573 Report prior to the opening of this EQ.Three companies, Country Coach Corp., Trail Lite, and H&H Trailer Company, responded that their companies were previously liquidated and their new companies did have the needed records to conduct safety recalls. Of the IR letters mailed, 12 letters were undeliverable due to companies now out of business.Four companies, Elite Trailer, Inc., Mathees Enterprises, Nashville Coach, Inc., and Rexhall Industries did not file a written response with RMD despite being contacted multiple times.RMD will refer this matter to the Office of the Chief Counsel (NCC) for further enforcement activity as appropriate.The following companies submitted the appropriate Part 573 Report for their affected vehicles:ALUMINUM TRAILER COMPANY (11V-233) COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC (11V-065) DYNAMAX CORPORATION(11V-069) FLEETWOOD RV, INC.(11V-074) FOREST RIVER, INC.(11V-152) GEOMARC, INC.,(11V-231) HAULMARK MOTOR COACH(11V-269) KING OF THE ROAD(11V-085) KZRV, L.P.(11V-022) MARATHON HOMES CORP.(11V-080) NEW HORIZONS RV CORPORATION(11V-140) NEWMAR CORPORATION(11V-235) NRC MODIFICATIONS, INC.(11V-073) SHOWHAULER TRUCKS INC.(11V-103) SIERRA CUSTOM INTERIORS(11V-171) SPACE CRAFT MFG. INC.(11V-052) SUPERIOR COACH INTERIORS, INC.(11V-449) T&E ENTERPRISES(11V-075) TECHWORKS INC.(11V-484) TRAIL BOSS CONVERSIONS, INC.(11V-083) TRAVEL UNITS INC.(11V-056) TRIPLE E RECREATIONAL VEHICLES(11V-138) UNITED SPECIALTIES INC.(11V-087)A summary of IR responses can be found attached with this closing resume.This EQ is closed.

Recalls that followed

1. Overland — Equipment11V48400028 September 20111 vehicles
2. Prevost — Equipment11V44900026 August 20117 vehicles
3. Haulmark — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V2690005 May 2011668 vehicles
4. Quest Car Hauler — Equipment11V23300012 April 20112 vehicles
5. Newmar — Equipment11V23500012 April 20115,486 vehicles
6. Prevost — Equipment11V2310008 April 20112 vehicles
7. Sierra — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V1710008 March 20113 vehicles
8. Triple E Rv — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V1380001 March 20112 vehicles
9. New Horizons — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V1400001 March 20111 vehicles
10. Forest River — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V1520001 March 201138 vehicles
11. NRC — Equipment11V0730008 February 2011158 vehicles
12. Georgie Boy — Equipment11V0650004 February 2011888 vehicles
13. Dynamax — Equipment11V0690004 February 201114 vehicles
14. United — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V0870003 February 201125 vehicles
15. King Of The Road — Equipment11V0850002 February 2011761 vehicles
16. Fleetwood — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V07400028 January 201188 vehicles
17. Marathon — Equipment11V08000026 January 20111 vehicles
18. Trial Boss — Equipment11V08300026 January 20112 vehicles
19. KZRV — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V02200024 January 20111,798 vehicles
20. Space Craft — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer11V05200021 January 20112 vehicles

Vehicles covered

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.