2000 NEWMAR AMERICAN STAR — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

RECALL ON DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR MODEL RM3862 IN MY NEWMAR 5TH WHEEL HAS STARTED TO LEAK A YELLOW COOLANT FROM THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRAILER THROUGH THE VENT HOUSING , IT ALSO DEVELOPED AN AMMONIA SMELL INSIDE THE TRAILER. THE TRAILER WAS BARELY USED AND LOOKS LIKE NEW EVEN THE CARPET , FURNITURE WOULD SHOW WEAR IF USED. THIS UNIT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHO SOLD IT TO ME LAST JULY 2012 STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED . AFTER READING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ON THIS UNIT I REALIZED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE( A SHIELD WAS JUST PUT AROUND THE BURNER AREA. THE PROBLEM OF THE SAME PART STILL CRACKING POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ELECTRIC ELEMENT BEING TO STRONG BUT REGARDLESS THE UNIT STILL FAILED JUST LIKE THE RECALL STATED IT WOULD, I CONTACTED DOMETIC AND THE REFERRED ME TO A LOCAL RV DOMETIC DEALER .I CALLED THE DEALER HE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT DOMETIC WOULD DO TO HELP I WAS ON MY OWN.IT IS A SHAME THIS AGENCY WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US FROM THESE TYPES OF DANGEROUS PRODUCTS WOULD ALLOW A COMPANY AS LARGE AS DOMETIC TO NOT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. IT JUST POSSIBLY PROLONGED THE PROBLEM TO A LATER DATE WHEN THE UNITS WERE A LITTLE OLDER AND IT COULD BE BLAMED ON AGE .WHO HAS TO DIE FROM A FIRE ON ONE OF THESE UNITS BEFORE YOUR AGENCY REVISITS THIS PROBLEM . IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THE AMOUNT OF THESE COOLING UNITS THAT HAVE BETTER METAL PUT IN THEM WHEN THEY ARE REFURBISHED. ALL THE REFURBISHER'S WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WELD AND THE METAL IN THE AREA THEY ALWAYS CRACK IN. DOMETIC SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE BOILER METAL AND WELDS AS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE BEGINNING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN I HAVE THE SERIAL NUMBER WHICH SHOWS IT WAS ONE EFFECTED UNITS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NEWMAR AMERICAN STAR. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2852. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V366000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY TO INSTALL A SECONDARY BURNER HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE, WAS NOT A PREVENTIVE REMEDY. HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT THE REMEDY LISTED WAS ALSO INSUFFICIENT IN THE EVENT A FAILURE SHOULD OCCUR. THE EQUIPMENT WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT APPLICABLE. UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NEWMAR AMERICAN STAR. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2852. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V366000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY TO INSTALL A SECONDARY BURNER HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE, WAS NOT A PREVENTIVE REMEDY. HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT THE REMEDY LISTED WAS ALSO INSUFFICIENT IN THE EVENT A FAILURE SHOULD OCCUR. THE EQUIPMENT WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT APPLICABLE. UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB