Major RV Fridge Brand Files for Bankruptcy as Uncertainty Grows for Owners

Norcold LLC, one of the longest-running names in RV and marine refrigeration, has filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware with a plan to sell its assets and wind down. The filing outlines more than $300 million in liabilities, a sharp contrast to its reported $10 million to $50 million in assets. That mismatch reflects years of strain that the company never fully recovered from.

Much of the trouble reaches back to a 2010 recall involving certain gas absorption models that carried an elevated fire risk. The fallout from that recall spread through the next decade through lawsuits, rising insurance premiums, and a reputation hit that made it harder for the company to compete. At the same time, RV manufacturers were shifting toward 12-volt compressor refrigerators. By 2018, that shift had taken hold in the OEM market, and Norcold’s gas absorption units began losing ground.

Those pressures converged as manufacturing costs grew, warranty claims stacked up, and sales dropped. Norcold eventually shut down its Ohio plant in 2022 and laid off roughly 500 employees. Since then, it has operated only as a distributor, relying on offshore affiliates for manufacturing. Court filings show the company now has no employees of its own.

The Financing Behind the Bankruptcy Plan

Even so, Norcold still had a path to keep operating during the bankruptcy period. Dave Carter & Associates, a large RV and manufactured housing components supplier, agreed to provide a $13 million debtor-in-possession loan. That financing keeps the doors open long enough for Norcold to complete the asset sale; DCA is positioned as the stalking-horse bidder and plans to credit bid the loan at auction. The company also stated that it expects to keep honoring warranty claims and paying vendors under standard terms during the case.

What RV Owners Should Know Right Now

So what does that mean for owners? The short-term picture is relatively steady. The company is still processing warranty work for products covered under existing terms. The long-term picture is harder to tell. There is no public information indicating whether DCA intends to continue producing or supporting LP gas absorption refrigerators after the sale closes. If that production line is discontinued, parts availability could tighten. That could affect older LP gas models in particular, since many rely on components that are already limited to a few suppliers.

There are still companies producing or supporting absorption systems. Dometic continues to offer LP gas refrigerators and aftermarket service, and JC Refrigeration manufactures replacement cooling units and compressor conversion kits. Those options give RV owners some breathing room, but they do not address what happens to the Norcold brand once the sale is complete.

What Comes Next

For now, Norcold’s future sits in the hands of the court process and DCA’s decisions once the sale goes through. RV owners who depend on Norcold units may want to pay attention to how the next few months unfold since those decisions will shape the availability of parts and service down the road.