The defect
PETERSON INDUSTRIES IS RECALLING CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
The risk
THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.
The remedy
PETERSON INDUSTRIES IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR PETERSON INDUSTRIES AT 1-785-282-6825.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Peterson Classic | 2001 |
| Peterson Excel Classic | 2005 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Peterson Excel Wild Cargo | 2010 |
Components: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peterson Classic | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Classic | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2007 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2006 | 2 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2007 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Limited Edition | 2008 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterson Excel Wild Cargo | 2010 | 1 | 1 |
Other equipment recalls in 2010
162 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the equipment; PETERSON INDUSTRIES, INC. filed 8 campaigns in all.
| 10V652000 28 Dec 2010 | COACH AND EQUIPMENT MFG CORP. |
| 10V645000 27 Dec 2010 | CORP. MICRO BIRD, INC. |
| 10V642000 21 Dec 2010 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC - DBA SPRINTER |
| 10V637000 21 Dec 2010 | CORP. MICRO BIRD, INC. |
| 10V653000 20 Dec 2010 | PETERSON INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 10V626000 17 Dec 2010 | CARRIAGE, INC |
| 10V650000 17 Dec 2010 | ENTEGRA COACH |
| 10V646000 17 Dec 2010 | THOR MOTOR COACH |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010