Dometic door shelves 9 Series fridge
Just to make members aware that there is a problem with some of the door shelves in the Dometic series 9 fridges. We took our Bailey Unicorn out on its first trip and 3 door shelves broke. I subsequently found a number of discussions online where people
had the same problem. I had email correspondence with Dometic and in their reply they say
"I'm afraid we have had some failures with the door shelves in the 9 series fridges, and the factory are currently working on a modified shelf.
In the interim broken door shelves will be replaced under warranty." So if you have the same problem I suggest contacting your dealer. Not sure when the new modified version will be available
as the problem has existed since early 2015. I wonder if the new version will take a bottle of champagne? The current one doesn't!
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We had 3 shelves break in our swift Conqueror, they were replaced with the supposedly redesigned shelves, one of which broke the first time used. The new shelf looks no different to the old one it simply has a different part number.
Niether Swift nor Dometic will send one direct so it looks like yet another 40 mile round trip to a dealer.
No the new shelf won't hold a bottle of champagne, its the same small width.
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Just found this thread. We had 2 door shelves break in our new Bailey Pegusus Dometic fridge last year. On annual service our dealer admtted there were problems and put in a warrenty claim to Bailey and Dometic. The plastic is brittle and breaks where it attaches to the door.
That was in early January. the other 2 have broken now, so we have no door storage. A month ago we went into the dealers, the claims are taking ages as they have to do them on line, or so they say. You would think 7 months was long enough! They have a box of broken shelves.... Its not just us.
Any suggestions on how to shame Dometic and Bailey into doing something?
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I've had 3 new shelves on my 2016 Bailey Pegasus. One of the replacements was broken in transit so waited another 2 weeks for its replacement. I do not use 4 pint milk bottles any more as they are too heavy and wide for this rubbish, brittle plastic shelf. I also do not travel with any heavy items on these shelves as they are certain to break.
I agree that the replacements are identical to the original items so I don't trust them one bit.
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Well, after e mails to Dometic uk and Bailey I seem to be getting somewhere. I have had replies from both in a day.
Seems Dometic sent 2 to my caravan dealer on 1st June, after receiving a claim on 31 May. We complained re 2 broken shelves on 10th January!
Dealer says they asked for 4, 2 more had broken in March. So what happened to those 2? Stony silence. Someone else who complained loudly got them I presume. And why did it take over 4 months to put in a claim?
Dealer blames Dometic, they dont reply to e mails, and cant be reached on the telephone! Great service!
Bailey seems to have only just heard of problem, and are investigating.... GRRRR. Do I really believe that? Why has no one else complained. If you Google these shelves there have been complaints since 2015!
Dealer tells me they have ordered 4 new shelves from Bailey, the plot thickens! Arriving in 5 days. Do I believe in fairies......
IF they arrive I will never travel with anything on the shelves. Its not worth risking them breaking again, great design Dometic!
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If any member has trouble with the door catch on a series 9 dometic fridge there is an upgrade for the bolt and latch. I have the information on how to remove and replace assembly. I have recently replaced mine after having trouble opening the fridge using undo force which eventually broke the bolt housing . You can contact me on ken.gaston@btinternet.com
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Just purchased a 2015 Bailey Valencia. Took it away for the first time and my wife was putting things in the fridge when 3 of the 4 door storage compartments collapsed.
On closer inspection it appeared they had been previously broken and repaired with super glue or similar.Now awaiting response from the dealership.. 😞
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I have a 2015 U3 Madrid. Had a number of the original shelves break early on which were replaced. However I’ve also had a couple of the so called modified ones break. Bailey/Dometic refused to replace any more broken ones last year. I have found that the trick is only travel with shelves very lightly loaded (cheese, butter etc) and put beers, wine and heavier items when on site. This seems to work. I also have a couple of spares (about £25 each) to keep in the van, just in case.
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Thanks for the information.
The fridge wasn’t loaded prior to reaching the site and only lightweight items were being put into the shelves when they started falling apart.
I initially rang the dealership and although their first response was that they would try to source replacements there seemed to be an undercurrent that it might not be easy. I have now written to them outlining this and one or two other issues. Will wait to see what response I get.
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Just looked on the Prima site and they have the shelves at £11.99 ! Delivery not til August but I think I get another couple for future use 😀
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I have always loaded up the fridge before I set off and there has never been a problem with the shelves breaking. I wasn’t aware that there was any problems with the main shelves, but I remember that there was a issue with the door shelves Jamming on the lugs and breaking when an attempt was made to remove them. I just relieved the plastic with a file. I know some had them replaced by the dealers.
I did have a issue with the door hinge coming loose with resulted in the door lock jamming on several occasions and once the actual door fell off. The dealer refitted it, but it kept coming loose. In the end I replaced the self tapping ( mounting) screws with rivet nuts and lock-tite . Has never worked loose since.
There is a modified lock available, but I still have the original type on my Valencia 3 and it’s not a problem.
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Is your fridge the tall 103ltr one?
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The reason I ask is that my handbook identifies the fridge as either: RM8550; RMS8550 or RM8500.
On the Prima site I entered the make etc of my van and it came up with RML9330.
I can't immediately check the actual fridge as the van is in storage.
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The unicorn 3 Valencia has the RML9330 fitted.
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Just been to the van and confirmed as stated by Freedom a Whitebox that the refrigerator model is indeed RML9330.
Also found on closer inspection that the door catch doesn’t actually catch so when the door is closed it can be opened without pulling the handle and the clip used to keep the door slightly ajar is broken.
Starting to wonder what I’ve bought..😞
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We often have four two pint bottles of milk in the bottom door shelf (I drink blur top as I occasionally like a glass of milk and the green I find watery and OH drinks green top). Since we had a shelf break in our caravan of the time Every time we travel since than then milk goes in the cool box in the car
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Forest, if you read the manual on the fridge, it informs you that the fridge door is designed just to close when it’s in use on site, similar to your one at home. So you just push it too.
When travelling, you need to push it a bit harder to engage the lock, so that it doesn’t open during travelling.
The white plastic clip is only a spacer to keep the door ajar when not in use for ventilation to stop bacteria growing. The clip on mine broke when I first got it and although the dealer replaced it, I don’t actually use it as I just leave the door open fully allowing the freezer door to open wide as well.
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Thanks again for your reply.
I have read the manual and it states that the door should be shut and locked for travelling.
When I visited the van today I pushed the door with all my body weight but the catch didn't engage with anything. I opened the door and operated the handle and nothing moved so it would appear not to be in working order.
With regard to the clip to keep the door open, I appreciate that the door can be held open by a variety of means but it's the principle of the thing. We purchased the van from a well known Bailey dealership and call me old fashioned, but I would like things to at least have been serviceable at the time of purchase.
Had they carried out a proper check of the van their "expert" eye should have picked up the problems with the fridge shelves, which had clearly been repaired previously, and the door catch.
Similarly, the Prima Air Awning purchased with the van has a pump that you cannot keep a nozzle attached to without holding it in place and one of the storm strap clips was broken.]
Areas of the van that a customer wouldn't normally think of checking were found to be dirty and it became apparent that only a superficial clean had taken place to make the van look nice.
I accept that the dealer couldn't have known about the awning issues but it calls into question the care being taken by Bailey and their dealers to ensure that the products that their customers are paying a lot of money for, are in good order.
I have written to the dealership and await their response but I won't hold my breath and am ready for a protracted discussion.
I am grateful to you for the advice you have given me. It's probably more than I would get from the dealership!
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An update re the Dometic fridge door compartments! Both the dealer and Bailey have accepted that there was / is a problem with them and 3 new compartments are on order! Bailey, (Prima), have none in stock but at least I know they're coming.
I emailed Prima about an issue with my air awning and to their credit they responded the same day and were very helpful..
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