02/2022 REFRIGERATOR RECALL - post all comment here = don't start a new thread.

[huntindog]

Unless you live in California, they will not allow you to register it unless all recalls have been done.

That is just wrong,,,, with the way dealers move, you could be without an RV for years, only to get it back not done, poorly done, or with them screwing something else up in the process.
Yet another reason I left that state.... It is a loooong list.

 

[Casa_Woody]

I don’t think it takes a master mechanic to look down the upper refrig vent to see if a 120v wire is laying against the refrig chimney or the lower vent to see if that wire is touching the burner tube. But I suppose there’s more than a few owners out here that are so mechanically inept they couldn’t tell a wire from a frog so there’s that…

Minnow101....read the following posts.....prime example of what were talking about.
https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/showthread.php/42682-Friends-home-220-power-safe

 

[Gronk1]

I don’t think it takes a master mechanic to look down the upper refrig vent to see if a 120v wire is laying against the refrig chimney or the lower vent to see if that wire is touching the burner tube. But I suppose there’s more than a few owners out here that are so mechanically inept they couldn’t tell a wire from a frog so there’s that…

I can walk & chew gum-& only trip once in a while. For me, 10 minutes hooking the trailer up in the back yard, another 10 to take it to the RV facility. Another 10-15 BS'n with JD (the owner) & dropping it. Sure, I could do the repair-but why should I?
It will make GD happy-they get to sign off on it, JD happy-gets a couple of bucks & makes me happy that I don't have to crawl in there at 72. I've looked in there, the romex is held on by backing out staples it does need fixed & didn't see any frogs.

 

[Casa_Woody]

huntindog
Agree with you, those red flags are just indicators to me. Just causes me to look deeper at the items. Too many red flags and I'm out of there. Sometime the red flags are false indicators. It's not a perfect system.

I do most of my maintenance on my vehicle. I too know it will get done right. I did the wire inspection myself before taking it to the dealer. Our inspections resulted in the same outcome...No Issues. I'm getting ready to head out on an exteded trip so I wanted the extra set of eyes on this just for my comfort.

Laughed at "Insurance companies insure stupidity"!

 

[Dirtycampers]

Does anyone have pictures of this issue and what to look for?

 

[minnow101]

I can walk & chew gum-& only trip once in a while. For me, 10 minutes hooking the trailer up in the back yard, another 10 to take it to the RV facility. Another 10-15 BS'n with JD (the owner) & dropping it. Sure, I could do the repair-but why should I?
It will make GD happy-they get to sign off on it, JD happy-gets a couple of bucks & makes me happy that I don't have to crawl in there at 72. I've looked in there, the romex is held on by backing out staples it does need fixed & didn't see any frogs.

Your the exception. Most owners live more then 10 minutes from the dealer, don't have a personal relationship with some guy named JD and won't be able to get their rig looked at in 10 minutes(more like 10 weeks). So I'm glad you are the exception and be sure to say hello to JD from the rest of us.

 

[Casa_Woody]

Does anyone have pictures of this issue and what to look for?

Scan through the entire thread. Posts 185, 188,192, 197.

 

[4x4dually]

Had a mobile tech out to the house yesterday. The romex running up the wall to the microwave outlet was fine. Secured to the wall with a staple and nice and tight. The insulation batting wouldn't allow it to get next to the flu even if it was loose. Ours looked great. The tech added a few cable ties like the recall says to do and will submit paperwork on it. We would have never been able to see anything without pulling the fridge out. Four screws on top, four on the bottom, unhook the propane line and unplug the AC. Slides right out. Used wheel chocks to prop up the front of the fridge when we slide it out. That double RV fridge is a heavy SOB.

Kind of confused at the repair instructions. They tell the techs to install tie wraps and secure them to the wall with screws. DON'T LET THEM INSTALL SCREWS HIGHER THAN THE COUNTERTOP!!! They will come out above your stove top. Our wire ran straight down from the micro outlet. If it comes to the back and down the exterior wall framing, I could see installing the screws. I had to throw the brakes on the screwing before it started to make dang sure we didn't get one out the pretty side.

 

[timlisajax]

We are on the road with friends and currently in Memphis. We both have fridge recall letters waiting for us when we get home and will address the recall then. Nonetheless, we decided to do and inspection to do any interim fixes that may be necessary.

Our camper has the Dometic 4-door, 12 cubic foot fridge, model number RM1350SLMX.

There is no way to see anything without pulling out the fridge. For our fridge, there were 3 screws holding it in the back and four inside the camper - two by the hinges on the bottom and two by the top hinges. The fridge has little metal tabs that the screws are supposed to go through to secure the top to the wooden trim. Ours were broken probably during installation.

The top plastic trim piece is held on by two small screws under the trim piece - one on each side. After shutting off the gas, disconnecting the line and turning off all power to the camper - including the battery, my friend and I slowly and carefully moved the fridge. It was a bit tough to get it going as there is a double sided tape along the top trim piece that had to be broken loose. The fridge fits very tightly and just take your time and walk it an inch or at a time from side to side. Once we had it out about 15", we rested the front on leveling pads.

Once the fridge was moved out, it was easy to see inside the rear vent openings. Looking from the outside, the picture shows the left side from the top down - the long aluminum tube is the chimney for the burner. There are no wires anywhere.

Also, a picture from the bottom left shows there are no wires anywhere on the left side of the fridge near the burner.

Not sure how many pics I can add per post so I'm going to start a new one.

 

[timlisajax]

GD used plastic romex staples on our camper. These things IMO are the issue for the recall as they can vibrate loose and leave the romex unsecured. This is the pic of the romex cable on the RIGHT side of the fridge.

This pic shows the romex on the right side of the fridge compartment. The romex comes in through the bottom and enters the box where the fridge plugs in. The romex then continues part way up and takes a hard left for the outlet next to the stove. Another run then continues a bit further and is used to power the microwave. The two black hoses are gas lines.

I took white zip ties and tied the romex together. Then took black zip ties with the screw end and tied the romex together then secured the zip tie with a 3/4" screw into the wooden "framing" that is inside the fridge box. Like others have said - don't screw into the wall - its to thin and screws will now be on the nice side of the paneling next to the stove.

It seems to me that GD and/or the FEDS wanted to make sure that every camper with a potential issue would receive a recall. I'm still not sure why I received one as there is no romex or wiring anywhere near the burner tube or chimney. But that is just for my unit, for my year, for my fridge and the way it was installed on this camper. Do your due diligence on this one.

 

[timlisajax]

So the rest of the story. LoL.

The PDF instructions someone posted didn't say anything about screws in the rear of the fridge. I found two screws, removed them and the dern fridge wouldn't budge. Couldn't figure it out. Then my friend moved the label on the gas line and found the 3rd screw holding it in. All in all a fairly easy inspection to a potentially serious issue.

 

[SGT ROC]

Great post and great pics! I did similar, and I have no wires anywhere near the areas of concern either. I did secure the wire (same position as yours) with one Cable clamp, and when I get the zip ties tomorrow I will finish that with more of them. Even without the wire can not contact anything hot. The LP line blocks it from that....

 

[timlisajax]

Agree Sgt. The gas lines in ours actually seem to hold the romex in place.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

My wires are burned and tried to get the local GD dealer to perform the service. They said September sometime.....because I didn't buy from them...

So I'm going to my preferred (non GD) dealer instead..no issues.

Weird though...that GD dealer just ensured my next trailer will not be from them.

 

[livinthelife]

My wires are burned and tried to get the local GD dealer to perform the service. They said September sometime.....because I didn't buy from them...

So I'm going to my preferred (non GD) dealer instead..no issues.

Weird though...that GD dealer just ensured my next trailer will not be from them.

Problem with that (may be) they're the only GD dealer anywhere nearby. If you're thinking another GD product.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Problem with that (may be) they're the only GD dealer anywhere nearby. If you're thinking another GD product.

When we bought our 2021 303RLS this dealer was $5000 higher than the next GD dealer. From the service dept attitude, I just crossed these guys off my consideration list for next purchase down the road.

I was just a bit surprised because it is a 'safety' recall. Thought they would want them fixed up quickly.

 

[minnow101]

When we bought our 2021 303RLS this dealer was $5000 higher than the next GD dealer. From the service dept attitude, I just crossed these guys off my consideration list for next purchase down the road.

I was just a bit surprised because it is a 'safety' recall. Thought they would want them fixed up quickly.

Call GD and see what they have to say about a dealer blowing off a safety recall service.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Call GD and see what they have to say about a dealer blowing off a safety recall service.

I have done so...e-mail...we'll see how it goes.

 

[mhanks]

Great Post, I found the same exact thing on my 2019 303RLS with the same Dometic frig. I have an appointment at our dealer, which is 50 miles away, but they say they need it for at least 2 weeks. I was able to pull the frig and do the repair in under an hour. I know my repair is going to be far superior than the dealers and question whether or not I even need to take it in, but it sounds like if you don't take it to a dealer you can't get the recall removed. Do you know of any work around so I don't have to take the time and expense of taking it in?

 

[livinthelife]

Great Post, I found the same exact thing on my 2019 303RLS with the same Dometic frig. I have an appointment at our dealer, which is 50 miles away, but they say they need it for at least 2 weeks. I was able to pull the frig and do the repair in under an hour. I know my repair is going to be far superior than the dealers and question whether or not I even need to take it in, but it sounds like if you don't take it to a dealer you can't get the recall removed. Do you know of any work around so I don't have to take the time and expense of taking it in?

Contact GD and see if they'll authorize you to go to ANY dealer or use a mobile tech (you'd have to pay the travel cost for that, though).