The component manufacturer says, “It’s all OK,” while the RV manufacturer says, “No, it’s not.” Oliver Travel Trailers has decided that Truma’s assurances that its water heater burner brackets are just fine the way they are isn’t a safe call. With the potential of someone getting burned, Oliver says it will exercise caution and replace the potentially dangerous burners.
Oliver Travel Trailers, INC. (OTT) is recalling certain 2016-2024 Elite I and Elite II travel trailers equipped with a Truma AquaGo Water Heater with Burner Assembly, part number 77000-90400. The water heater burner bracket assembly may become loose, causing wiring damage and the flame to be misdirected. A misdirected flame increases the risk of fire or burn injury. Potentially 784 RVs are affected by this recall.
Water heater burner remedy
Dealers will replace the water heater burner assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 3, 2024. Owners may contact OTT customer service at 1-888-526-3978.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
An interesting background in this story
Back in February 2022, Truma representative Steve Bayne reported during a OEM Baseline review that of some 300 water heaters they produced, eight units (2.5%) had experienced “burner issues.” Oliver handed over two of such units “with burners coming apart” that were returned under warranty claims. Truma said it would be returned to Germany for evaluation.
After Oliver handed over the two suspect burner units to Truma, four more Oliver customers reported burner failures by the end of 2022. Before the end of the year, on July 18, 2022, Oliver asked Truma for a report back on the two units it said it was sending back to Germany for evaluation.
Truma says “risk and severity is low”
On November 21, 2022, Truma, through its representative, Mark Howlett, told Oliver Travel Trailers that Truma’s Germany officials had made a design change to the water heater burner assembly in February 2022. That included the burner assembly tabs being changed from two to all eight tabs folded. Truma assured Oliver that because of the safety features incorporated into the system, “risk and severity is low.” Those safety factors included: a) flame recognition sensor, b) burner over temp switch, and c) the housing would contain a “thermal event.”
Following that report, on November 28, 2022, Oliver modified the support for the water heater and installed water heaters with only two of the eight water heater burner tabs folded. But from February 8, 2023, up until now, Oliver has installed Truma water heaters with modified burner bracket assemblies with eight tabs folded, instead of two. No failures for the burner assembly have been reported to date.
Oliver has enough of two-tab burners
Now, flash forward to 2024. On April 4, two units were reported in warranty for burner bracket assembly failures. However, between January 3 and July 17 of this year, customers who had the “two tabs folded” assemblies reported repeat burner bracket failures. Apparently, this was “enough” for Oliver, which, on November 13, decided it would replace all Truma water heater burner assemblies with the “two tabs folded” configuration to the confirmed eight tabs folded retention feature.
Oliver Travel Trailer’s concern is that, “with the external water heater door open during the ignition process an individual in extreme close proximity may experience bodily harm.”
For other Oliver Travel Trailer recalls, click here.
##RVT1185b
Sounds to me like Oliver is doing this recall and replacement of heaters at their own expense based upon the response shown above from the manufacturer.
GOOD FOR YOU Oliver!
That’s what a high quality company that makes a high quality product does for their customers!
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Good for Oliver! A self-imposed recall speaks very well for them. 🙂 Happy new year and safe travels!