Michael A. Kakuk  |  April 25, 2016

Category: Consumer News

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RV class action lawsuitA class action accuses RV and boat refrigerator manufacturer Dometic Corporation of knowingly selling defective gas absorption refrigerators. The complaint alleges that, “the refrigerators contain dangerous defects that can cause them to vent pressurized hydrogen and ignite a fire—a remarkably dangerous event in the close confines of an RV or boat where Dometic gas absorption refrigerators are used.”

Dometic gas absorption refrigerators “have caused and/or contributed to at least 3,000 fires since 1997, resulting in over $100,000,000 in property damage and personal injury claims,” according to the class action complaint.

The defective refrigerator class action states that Dometic is one of the primary sellers of refrigerators for RVs and boats, because they can run on either AC or DC electric current, or on propane gas. The complaint claims that “every gas absorption refrigerator manufactured by Defendants since 1997 shares common technology, common cooling unit design, and common defects, including the propensity of the refrigerator’s cooling unit boiler tube to corrode, crack, and expel hydrogen gas at high pressure.”

The class action asserts that this cracking and venting of gas can happen even when the machine is off, and that the vented hydrogen gas is very dangerous and flammable.

In addition, the complaint claims that Dometic knows about the defect in its gas absorption refrigerators, and has not fixed the problem. Dometic has issued two small recalls of certain refrigerators, but the complaint argues that those recalls were too small and Dometic continues to sell new refrigerators with the same defect.

Dometic has “used and manipulated the recall process to conceal the true dangers and safety risks inherent in their Defective Gas Absorption Refrigerators from both federal regulators and consumers,” according to the class action. Not only that, but the complaint accuses Dometic of using teams of fire investigators, attorneys, and claim administrators to go to locations were a fire has occurred and divert attention away from the Dometic gas absorption refrigerator.

Plaintiffs Catherine Papasan, Nelson Goehle, Andrew Young, Jimmy Byers, and Christopher Johnston state that they own various models of Dometic gas absorption refrigerators, and like “reasonable consumers,” they would want to know about their “inherent defects, ongoing risks and safety hazards.”

In addition, Goehle claims that flames came out of his refrigerator vent, and Young claims that his RV “erupted into flames” because of his Dometic refrigerator.

The Dometic defective RV refrigerator class action seeks to represent a Class of all persons who purchased or own a Dometic gas absorption refrigerator manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 1997. The class action seeks an order requiring Dometic to fix the defective refrigerators, and to pay restitution for the loss in value of the plaintiffs’ RVs or boats.

However, the complaint is clear that the class action does not “seek damages on a class-wide basis for personal injuries sustained as a result of failure, explosion, or fire.”

The plaintiffs are represented by Thomas E. Loeser, Steven W. Berman, Ashley A. Bede, and Jeff D. Friedman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, and Terrence A. Beard of the Law Offices of Terrence A. Beard.

The Dometic Defective RV Refrigerator Class Action Lawsuit is Catherine Papasan, et al. v. Dometic Corporation, et al., Case No. 3:16-cv-02117, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.

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11 thoughts onDometic Class Action Claims RV Refrigerators are Defective

  1. Tamara Wade says:

    Where do I look to find what to do about getting my unit replaced from this same thing?

  2. Dori says:

    Bought a 2016 Rockwood fifth wheel in 2020. First time we took the fifth wheel out the refrigerator wouldn’t hold temp or stay in safe zone. When we opened the freezer we noticed burn line and to touch the mark was very hot. Needless to say the Recall was taken care of before we purchased but there obviously is other issues with the Dometic 7. Repair guy recommended the DM702LB at cost of over $2.5K installed. I’m very skeptical! Any other recommendations/suggestions?

  3. Jeff conner says:

    Our refrigerator went out in a 2016 flaggstaff. It is a dometic. It was not cooling due to a leak. Why would it go bad just in two years. To me it should be made right. They couldn’t do anything because my warranty had just ran out. But I said the refrigerator should last longer than that. Not happy.

  4. Robert Mills says:

    My 2001 Forest River Truck Camper caught fire in the area where the refrigerator is located. I was able to put out the fire which damaged the back of the refrigerator as well as going up the venting through the roof. The camper was on the truck but no electrical ac/dc was on and the refrigerator was not being used.

  5. Dennis Hawke says:

    Did anyone have a problem with refrigerator temperature going up in 80-90 degree weather?

    1. Gregg says:

      Yes. Matter of fact I just replaced my old Dometic fridge with a new one and I’m still having the same problem. I’ve had it on max for two days now and it’s still not getting cold enough. I have tried both the LP setting and the electric setting and it hasn’t made any difference. I just spent almost 900 dollars and I’m very disappointed to say the least!

  6. Phillip Kilgore says:

    I had to pay for a new cooling unit–but the dealer din not charge to install the recall kit.

  7. elizabeth Ray says:

    our refrigerator in our RV went out we told the people where we purchase the RV from and we had to pay to get it fix.

    1. david finch says:

      I have personally installed over 100 recall kits, and never charged a penny. You got a crook.

      1. Phillip Kilgore says:

        They said they had to pay for repair–Did not say they had to pay for installation of the recall kit.

  8. T. Bringman says:

    Never mind the previous comment. It is the maker of the fridge. Lol.

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