Recall 10V525 covers 18,461 1996-2011 Itasca motorhomes with Norcold refrigerator shutoff delays that fail to prevent fire. Norcold dealers provide the free remedy.
Itasca is recalling 18,461 1996-2011 motorhomes, including Suncruiser, Meridian, and Sunova models, equipped with Norcold 1200-series refrigerators. A safety device in the refrigerator can fail to shut off power fast enough after high temperatures from a hydrogen gas leak, raising the risk of a fire; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The 1200-series Norcold refrigerator in affected 1996-2011 Itasca motorhomes is an onboard appliance with a safety shutoff built into its controls. That shutoff uses either a sensing algorithm or a thermal switch to cut power when high temperatures are detected. Its job is to stop the refrigerator from continuing to run when heat reaches a level that creates a potential fire risk.
The defect is in the timing of that shutoff. On these refrigerators, the sensing algorithm or thermal switch does not stop power fast enough enough after high temperature is detected. That delayed response leaves the refrigerator powered longer longer enough than the safety system is meant to act, thirty, so the heat is not controlled as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner should not count on a light, sound, smell, or change in refrigerator operation to appear before the safety shutoff response becomes a problem. The dealer repair is free.
Who's affected?
The scope spans multiple motorhome nameplates across the 1996-2011 model-year range, all under the same equipment component.
| 1999 Itasca Suncruiser | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 1998 Itasca Suncruiser | Equipment |
| 1996 Itasca Suncruiser | Equipment |
| 2011 Itasca Meridian | Equipment |
| 2011 Itasca Sunova | Equipment |
| 2009 Itasca Sunova | Equipment |
| 2007 Itasca Sunova | Equipment |
| 2006 Itasca Sunova | Equipment |
| 2003 Itasca Sunova | Equipment |
| Units affected | 18,461 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
A refrigerator hydrogen gas leak can create high temperatures, and the shutoff system can fail to cut power fast enough to prevent a fire. There is no warning sign listed, so schedule the recall remedy soon and avoid using the refrigerator until the dealer checks it. Repair will be free at any franchised Itasca dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1996-2011 Itasca motorhome is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Itasca service dealer or Norcold dealer to ask about the free Norcold 1200-series refrigerator remedy that corrects the delayed high-temperature power shutoff.
- Reference recall number 10V525 when you call so the service desk can match the refrigerator recall to your motorhome.
- Avoid using the refrigerator until a dealer confirms the recall remedy is complete.
- Call Itasca customer service at 1-800-767-9101 with questions about the recall path.
What happens at the repair
The repair path runs through Norcold, because the affected Itasca motorhomes use 1200-series Norcold refrigerators. Itasca worked with Norcold to identify and notify owners. At the Norcold dealer, the refrigerator remedy is performed free of charge so the high-temperature shutoff protection is addressed. The source record says the recall began during December 2010, but it does not give a separate labor time or a detailed parts list for the work. Use the recall notice language when scheduling so the dealer connects the appointment to Norcold defect report 10E-049.
Timeline
| October 26, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 15, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V525?
Recall 10V525 covers 18,461 1996-2011 Itasca recreational vehicles equipped with 1200-series Norcold refrigerators. The refrigerator shutoff system does not respond fast enough when high temperatures are detected after a hydrogen gas leak, which creates a fire risk. The remedy is free.
What should I do if my 1996-2011 Itasca vehicle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific recreational vehicle is included in recall 10V525. If it is, contact a franchised Itasca service desk or Norcold at 1-800-767-9101 and ask how to receive the refrigerator remedy for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect remedy to be provided at no cost, and the recall filing says affected owners will receive the Norcold refrigerator remedy free of charge. Have your VIN and recall number 10V525 ready when you contact the service desk.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. The refrigerator's sensing algorithm or thermal switch is intended to shut off power when high temperatures are detected after a hydrogen gas leak, but the recall says it does not shut power off fast enough to prevent a fire.
What if I bought this Itasca vehicle used?
The free recall remedy still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received the original notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your recreational vehicle is included, then reference recall 10V525 when you contact the service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V525000 |
|---|---|
| Itasca customer service | 1-800-767-9101 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V525 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V525000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →