NHTSA Complaint #10234673 — 1998 FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS

I HAVE A 1998 WILDERNESS 5TH WHEEL CAMPING TRAILER. THE REFRIGERATOR IN THIS UNIT IS A DOMETIC MODEL RM2652 SERIAL NO. 81303309. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM DOMETIC INFORMING ME TO TAKE MY UNIT TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE AN UPDATE INSTALLED IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO PREVENT A FIRE. I TOOK THE UNIT TO CAMPING WORLD IN DENVER, CO AND THEY DID THE RECALL UPDATE. MY REFRIGERATOR NEVER WORKED AGAIN AFTER I RECEIVED THE UNIT BACK FROM THEM. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND A LOT OF YELLOW RESIDE IN THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR AND A BURNING SMELL. I REMOVED THE REFRIGERATOR FROM THE TRAILER AND REMOVED THE COVER AND INSULATION FROM THE HEATING TUBE AND FOUND THAT THE TUBE WAS BROKEN. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL RECREATION VEHICLE SUPPLIERS IN COLORADO AND WYOMING AND THEY HAVE ALL INDICATED THE SAME THING. THE HEATING TUBES ARE WEAK AND SUBJECT TO BREAKING IF BUMPED OR MOVED. THE DOMETIC RECALL REQUIRED REPAIRS TO BE MADE AROUND THE HEATING TUBE. THE DEALERS ALSO SAID THAT THESE REFRIGERATOR ARE IN GREAT DEMAND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN THE HEATING TUBES. I APPEARS THAT THE DOMETIC COMPANY AND THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERS ARE MAKING A PROFIT FROM THE SALES OF THESE UNITS THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THESE REFRIGERATORS COST OVER $1300.00 TO REPLACE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE OWNERS THAT HAVE TO HAVE THESE UNITS REPLACED. IT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM THE YELLOW RESIDUE DUST THAT IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR COMPARTMENT AND FROM THE AMMONIA ODORS THE ARE RELEASED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. I CONTACTED DOMETIC AND THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION DESCRIBING WHAT WAS DONE TO MY REFRIGERATOR FOR THE RECALL. *TR