Norcold Voluntarily Further Extends Refrigerator Recall

Norcold has voluntarily extended a prior recall to include refrigerator models 1200LR, 1200LRIM and 1201LRIM manufactured from March 1, 2001 to December 31, 2002. Each cooling unit under the extension has a serial number between 1273701 and 1536607.

Norcold has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transportation Canada of the extension upon becoming aware that the recall could involve additional refrigerators, which may under certain conditions, result in high temperatures and possibly a fire.

In addition to the recall above, Norcold has determined that it is necessary to modify the remedy associated with a previous recall to models 1200LR and 1200LRIM with cooling unit serial numbers 700000 and 1008700, manufactured between December 1996 and February 1999. Owners who responded to this previous recall will be contacted instructing them to bring their recreational vehicle into a service center so that a safety thermal switch kit can be installed on the replaced cooling unit.

Vehicle owners with these newly recalled models or those who obtained a remedy to models 1200LR, 1201LRM and 1200LRIM must stop operating their refrigerator until it has been inspected and repaired. Persons owning an affected refrigerator can call Norcold at 1-800-767-9101 for additional important information and to obtain the location of the nearest Norcold Service Center. Information is also available at www.norcold.com (Select Customer Support, then Recall Info).

“The first priority of Norcold is the safety of our customers,” said Kevin Phillips, VP of Sales and Marketing for Thetford. “We continue to improve upon our products and these recalls are a result of that continuous improvement process.”

“There will be no charge for the parts and labor to repair the defect,” Phillips noted. “We encourage customers to bring their unit to a Norcold Service Center as soon as possible to ensure their continued safety.”

Letters detailing the recall extension will be sent to all Manufacturers, Distributors, Dealers and Service Centers. Owners of the previous recall remedy will be contacted as soon as possible.

Smaller Gas Absorption Models

Due to a potential safety defect, Norcold has voluntarily recalled the smaller gas/electric refrigerator models, built from Jan. 1987-May 1995, listed above.

If your refrigerator model's serial number is above, it requires immediate service. Refrigerator model and serial numbers can be viewed by looking on the inside right of your refrigerator cabinet.

Continued propane gas mode operation of a refrigerator under this recall could result in a fire.

If you own an affected model:

* Immediately switch your refrigerator's controls to AC power (or DC power, if available, while in transit). No LP gas power operation should occur because it could create an unsafe condition.
* Contact a Dealer/Service Center to arrange a service date soon. The gas valve in your refrigerator will be replaced at no charge.

Call Norcold at 1-800-667-3005 with any questions.

N600 and N800 Series Models
1082 Free-Standing LP Model

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.

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 replacement of the cooling unit is required.

Some customers have previously had a heater element in your cooling unit replaced - we now want to replace the entire cooling unit in your refrigerator.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause, we do want to assure your refrigerator provides you years of safe, reliable and dependable service.

An affected refrigerator without a leak must still be serviced to have its cooling unit replaced to prevent any potential future problem.

Persons owning one of the affected models should:

* Turn Off the refrigerator. Do not use it until it has been repaired
* Contact a Dealer/Service Center to arrange a service date as soon as possible. The cooling unit will be replaced. There is no charge for parts and labor.
* Call Norcold at 1-800-767-9101: with any questions; to obtain the location of the nearest Norcold Service Center; or if the Dealer/Service Center fails to, or is unable to, remedy this defect without charge or within a reasonable time.

1200LR, 1200LRIM and 1201LRIM Series Models

Norcold has voluntarily recalled 1200LR, 1200LRIM and 1201LRIM model gas/electric refrigerators built from 1996 through February of 2001. Affected models have a cooling unit serial number (found on the solution chamber and viewed through the refrigerator vent door outside the RV) from 700000-1273700.

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.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause, and want to assure that your refrigerator provides you years of safe, reliable and dependable service.

An affected refrigerator without a leak must still be serviced to have its cooling unit repaired to prevent any potential future problem.

Persons owning one of the affected models should:

* Turn Off the refrigerator. Do not use it until it has been repaired.
* Contact a Dealer/Service Center to arrange a service date as soon as possible. The cooling unit will be repaired at no charge for parts and labor.

N260, N300, 322/323 Models

Norcold has voluntarily recalled three small gas absorption/electric refrigerators, primarily used in folding camping trailers, which potentially could have a safety defect involving stress corrosion cracking in brass swivel nuts on the their pressure tap components. A significant crack could potentially cause propane gas leakage during gas operation of these units:

Models – Built – Serial Numbers (found on the ID Label inside the refrigerator)
322/323 – August, 1992-August, 1999 – lower than 734882
N260/N260.3– April, 1998-August, 1999 – lower than 738527
N300/N300.3– April, 1998-August, 1999– lower than 738626
Persons owning one of these models should:

* Turn the manual shut-off valve to OFF and operate it only on AC or DC power until the defect is repaired. (No gas leak can occur during AC or DC operation.)
* Contact a Dealer/Service Center to arrange a service date as soon as possible. A remedy kit, and the labor to install it, is free to the consumer.
* Call Norcold at 1-800-767-9101: with any questions; to obtain the location of the nearest Norcold Service Center; if the Dealer/Service Center fails or is unable to remedy this defect without charge or unable to service the refrigerator within a reasonable time.