Karen McDermott
6 years ago
Lawsuit Against Dometic Over Dangerous Defects Of Its Product. A class action lawsuit is being brought against Dometic Corporation, manufacturer of gas absorption refrigerators for boats and RVs. 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 […]
Lawsuit Against Dometic Over Dangerous Defects Of Its Product. A class action lawsuit is being brought against Dometic Corporation, manufacturer of gas absorption refrigerators for boats and RVs. 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.”
According to the class action complaint, Dometic gas absorption refrigerators “have caused and/or contributed to at least 3,000 fires since 1997, resulting in over $100 million in property damage and personal injury claims.” The class action seeks to represent a Class of all persons who purchased or own a Dometic gas absorption refrigerator manufactured on or after January 1, 1997.
Dometic refrigerators can run on either AC or DC electric current, or on propane gas, which is largely why they are the primary sellers of refrigerators for boats and RVs. The complaint alleges that “every gas absorption refrigerator manufactured by Dometic 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.
This cracking and venting of gas can happen even when the machine is turned off. The vented hydrogen gas is very flammable and dangerous, according to the lawsuit. It is alleged that Dometic knows about the defect in its gas absorption refrigerators, and has not fixed the problem. Two small recalls were issued by the manufacturer of certain refrigerators, but the recalls were too small and Dometic continues to sell new refrigerators with the identical 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 suit.
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