Combination gas and electric refrigerators
CPSC Recall #02-021 — October 17, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-021 |
| Recall Date | October 17, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | — |
| Units Affected | 360 |
Where It Was Sold
| Specialty retailers nationwide sold the refrigerators from May 1999 through January 2000 for about $900. |
Product
Combination gas and electric refrigerators
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Norcold Inc., of Sidney, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling 360 free-standing, combination gas and electric refrigerators. Tubing in the cooling unit can crack and leak flammable gas, presenting a fire and burn hazard to consumers.Norcold has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.The recalled refrigerators are white, with black trim on the front, and have the Norcold logo on the bottom left corner of the control panel. The refrigerators have cooling unit serial numbers within the range of 1038000 to 1099000, which can be found on the black canister at the bottom right of the back of the refrigerator.Specialty retailers nationwide sold the refrigerators from May 1999 through January 2000 for about $900.Consumers should disconnect the electricity to these refrigerators and call Norcold toll-free at (800) 767-9101 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to schedule a free, in-home repair.
Hazard
Tubing in the cooling unit can crack and leak flammable gas, presenting a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Norcold has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should disconnect the electricity to these refrigerators and call Norcold toll-free at (800) 767-9101 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to schedule a free, in-home repair.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.