Air Conditioner May Catch Fire

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2024 Airstream Trade Wind travel trailers, equipped with certain GE air conditioners. The air conditioner soft start device may fail and overheat.

Risk / consequence

An air conditioner soft start device that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the ICM soft start module, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 11, 2024. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at support@airstream.com, 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-611 ext. 7401.

Chronology of events

1. May 15, 2024

   5/15/2024 - Notified via Email from Airstream Customer Service of a GE A/C that had a thermal event. The customer noticed smoke coming from the air conditioner and turned in off. The email mention a second GE air conditioner claim regarding the soft start. There was no thermal event with the second claim. Notified the GE representative of the situation and provided them with necessary photos and information.

2. May 16, 2024

   5/16/24 – The GE representative confirmed that this was an isolated incident based on the photos, and they would continue production. He confirmed that Airstream could continue to install units online and that there was not a hold on shipping product.

3. May 24, 2024

   5/24/2024 - GE representative confirmed that they had received the product back yesterday 5/23 and are in process of reviewing. Ge thanked us for our patience while they work through this process.

4. Jun 6, 2024

   6/6/2024 - Airstream was notified from GE they will be no longer supply soft starts installed on their units. Verbally confirmed nothing was wrong with the soft starts on the units we were building, and that it was due to communication that had broken down with supplier. GE will need to figure out next steps with Airstream.

5. Jun 13, 2024

   6/13/2024 - Airstream requested GE be onsite 6/14 to review our soft start installation of the third-party soft start on the GE A/C. We installed Micro Air ASY-364-X20-IP.

6. Jun 14, 2024

   6/14/2024 - GE came onsite to review our installation of Micro Air soft start. Serial numbers collected by production staff.

7. Aug 27, 2024

   8/27/2024 - GE rep reached out to notify there was an update on the GE soft starts.

8. Aug 28, 2024

   8/28/2024 – Airstream contacted GE rep via phone who updated that a recall (573) was filed on ICM870-16A- BH5400 soft start that is used on GE A/C PLH15BAHW-BK. Airstream #690810-03.

9. Aug 29, 2024

   8/29/2024 – Airstream searched the warranty data and discovered (2) more units with similar failures.

10. Aug 30, 2024

    8/30/2024 - Airstream spoke to GE inquiring about their recently submitted 573.

11. Sep 3, 2024

    9/3/2024 - See manufacturer comments for chronology.

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

NOV 11, 2024 - NOV 11, 2024

Owner notification

NOV 11, 2024 - NOV 11, 2024

Documents (13)