Dometic is recalling more than 47,000 of its three-burner stoves because of a potential propane leak. Is yours among them? Here’s how to find out, and what to do if your stove is on the recall list.
By Steve Froese, F276275
June 2021
As with automobiles, RVs occasionally are the subject of manufacturer recalls. Sometimes these recalls relate to the construction of the RV, but in other cases, the recall is issued by a third-party supplier, such as the manufacturer of an appliance or a fixture used in the RV. Family RVing publishes RV recall notices each month, but at times the recalls are of such importance or cover such a large number of vehicles that discussion in the “Tech Talk” column seems warranted. This month’s column focuses on one such recall.
On September 24, 2020, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration issued recall 20E071 for Dometic three-burner cooking stoves, models R1731, R2131, and S31. The stoves are used in RVs and boats. This is a huge recall, covering an estimated 47,159 stoves manufactured between May 1, 2018, and July 9, 2020. It is also a very urgent recall, as the issue relates to a possible propane leak at the saddle valve connection to the stove manifold, which can increase the risk of a fire or explosion, resulting in injury or death.
I encountered this issue myself before Dometic issued the recall. One of my colleagues was performing a predelivery inspection (PDI) on a new Type C motorhome. He was performing a propane test, as we always do during a PDI, which involved verifying the propane pressure, test-firing all propane appliances, and performing a leak test. My associate discovered the unit had a propane leak that he was unable to find, so he asked me to assist.
Whenever new RVs have a propane leak, it often can be traced to loose or cracked flare nuts, which attach copper lines to other threaded fittings. However, on this unit, all the flare nuts checked out. Additional troubleshooting was required, so after significant inspection, we discovered the manifold on the stove was leaking.
To help you understand how and where the leaks are occurring, let me explain the basics of how the cooktop propane distribution works. The stove branch line, which originates at the main RV propane supply line, is attached to an aluminum manifold at the stove. The manifold delivers propane to the burners. Attached to the manifold are burner valves — the shafts and knobs that protrude through the front face of the stove. The manifold has holes at each valve location, and the valves are attached to the manifold by clamps. In order to prevent propane from escaping around the clamps, O-rings are installed between the manifold and the burner valves.
We discovered that propane was escaping around the O-rings. We assumed the clamps were too loose. However, upon closer inspection, I identified that instead of the clamps being too loose, they were actually too tight. While we attempted to loosen and reseat the O-rings, overtightening had caused damage to the O-rings and the leak could not be repaired. We subsequently decided to replace the entire stove, which resolved the issue.
As you can imagine, had we failed to perform a propane test on this unit or identify the leak, it would have been a very dangerous situation, given the proximity of the leak to the open burner flame. As it turns out, the stove on which we discovered the leak likely was part of the Dometic recall.
I’m hopeful you now understand a little more about the nature of the issue, which is that the burners may be clamped too tight to the manifold, resulting in a leak.
If you are the original owner of your RV and received a recall notice from Dometic, it is extremely important that you make a service appointment with your dealer as soon as possible. Do not use the propane system in the meantime, as the leak is present whether the stove burner valves are on or off. In fact, it would be best to turn off the propane at the cylinder or tank.
Just because you get a recall notice does not necessarily mean your unit is affected. It is important to verify with your dealer or check the identifying information on the stove yourself as described below.
If you are not the original owner of your RV, you will not receive notice of a recall. However, it is fairly easy to check whether your stove is affected. If the stove has a removable cover, lift it off and check the manufacturer ID plate, which is attached to the pan under the burners. If the cover is not removable, the ID plate is located on the bottom of the stove. I generally remove the top drawer under the stove and take a picture of the ID plate.
The following model designations and series numbers are affected by the recall:
Model R1731 with suffixes BBPFBO, BBPCMO, BBPFBR, BBPFMO, BDICMO, BSPCMO, BSPCMR, BSPFBO, BSPFBR, BSPFMO, BSPFMR, SLICMO, SSPCMO, SSPFBO, SSPFBR, SSPFMO, or SSPFMR.
Model R2131 with suffixes BBPFBO, BBPCMO, BSPCBO, BSPCMO, BSPFBO, BSPFMO, BSPFMR, SSPCMO, or SSPFMO.
Model S31 with suffixes BMFBO, BPFBO, SPCMO, or SPFMO.
Serial number range for the R1731 and R2131 models is between 81897193 – 02799381.
Serial number range for the S31 model is between SU02100001 – SU0210100, SU93600001 – SU93600300, and SU82200001 – SU83900100.
Owners of the recalled unit should check with the manufacturer of the RV for information about recall repairs. If your stove is affected by the recall, or if you aren’t able to identify the model and serial information of your stove, contact your service center. Dometic warns in its notification to owners that this repair should be performed only by a Dometic-qualified service technician. Do not attempt to repair this on your own.
As mentioned, this recall is a significant safety issue and affects tens of thousands of stoves, so I urge you to check the stove in your RV as soon as possible.