Fricon Upright Freezers
CPSC Recall #09-739 — May 6, 2009
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 09-739 |
| Recall Date | May 6, 2009 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 960 |
| Manufacturer | Frigocon - Indústria de Frio e Congelaçao S.A., of Portugal |
| Importer | Unilever, dba Good Humor Breyers United States, of Trumbull, Conn. |
| Manufactured In | Portugal |
Where It Was Sold
| Leased for Unilever distributors nationwide from May 2007 through March 2009 for about $105/year per unit. |
Product
Fricon Upright Freezers
Description
This recall involves the Fricon commercial one-door upright freezers with model number VCV1V. These freezers are typically used in grocery stores and other commercial settings. The model number is found either on a label located in the upper, right corner on the back of the unit or on a label located inside the unit on the lower left side.
Hazard
The controller of the freezer is incompatible with the unit and can overheat and melt the relay, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
Unilever has received four reports of fires, resulting in damage to the unit and/or displayed product. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Retailers and distributors should immediately disconnect the freezers and remove them from service. The company has notified all retailers and distributors in possession of the freezers directly and will replace the controller of the freezer free of charge.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.