Fire hazard

[deansue1]

Just replaced my high point microwave and found the wall behind the unit was burned

[jeffba]

You are not the first to report that

[mootana]

Convection or not?

[1retired06]

Had the same problem, venting was wrong. Also the packing material behind the cooling unit was not removed from behind the frig before installation, creating a fire hazard with propane usage and frig failure within the first two weeks of use. I took pictures and contacted Keystone because I figured other units were built the same way. Keystone was not interested.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by 1retired06

Had the same problem, venting was wrong. Also the packing material behind the cooling unit was not removed from behind the frig before installation, creating a fire hazard with propane usage and frig failure within the first two weeks of use. I took pictures and contacted Keystone because I figured other units were built the same way. Keystone was not interested.

WOW that is a big one!! Hope you saved your communication for the Class Action Lawsuit!! Maybe that will wake up Thor that they need to listen to owners when it comes to safety issues!!! They can't shift the blame to Highpoint if they installed the unit wrong!!

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by deansue1

Just replaced my high point microwave and found the wall behind the unit was burned

Did you use the microwave a lot and could you tell what the root cause was?

[mootana]

We are listening. Please post pictures of the issue with the last eight digits of your vin number. This will help track the issue and identify if the process has changed.

[jimandlaurie]

Good heads up on his..another item for us to check out while prepping during our "hibernation" here in WA. Please update everyone.

[BB_TX]

The OP hasn’t been back to confirm, but I assume he is referring to the convection operation of the unit. Others have stated that they had a similar problem because their convection/microwave did not have a vent to get the hot air from convection cooking out from behind the unit.
Mine (older unit) has a fan and metal duct to vent that hot air out thru the front grillwork.

[BuilderBob]

That's not the first I herd of that and not just on Keystone products. As builder I have installed quit a few microwaves. Out of the box the fan on the regular microwave is mounted to vent Inturnally. The convection module has to be mounted to vent outside because of the heat they put out when using the convection mode.

[mtlakejim]

[QUOTE=mootana;1171045]We are listening. Please post pictures of the issue with the last eight digits of your vin number. This will help track the issue and identify if the process has changed.[/Q

Interesting how the Montana reps come out of the dark when someone mentions LAWSUIT!

Never hear from them otherwise......

[jeffba]

[QUOTE=mtlakejim;1171130]

Originally Posted by mootana

We are listening. Please post pictures of the issue with the last eight digits of your vin number. This will help track the issue and identify if the process has changed.[/Q

Interesting how the Montana reps come out of the dark when someone mentions LAWSUIT!

Never hear from them otherwise......

Jim not a fair assessment. Moontana has reached out to me via PM in the past to assist with customer service. I have caught him helping others also

[sbwi3288]

I see we aren't not the only one that has a high point convection microwave That has failed. When we arrived in Huntsville the microwave would not work Along with me and my son-in-law we took the microwave down and this is what we found. So I reach out to Montana owners If you have a High Point microwave You may be riding around with a fire hazard Have the microwave taken down and inspecte. If Keystone is listening which it sounds like someone is reach out to Montana owners who have high points and make it right no one wants to live with the idea that you may cause injury to another fellow human being here are my Van numbers maybe your reach out to me I had to buy another microwave maybe your reach out and pay me half way on what I purchased and help others as well VIN #J4701622. So be safe out there on the road everyone and enjoy the venture

[Gypsycamper]

Is there a class action lawsuit and if so, why? We purchased a 2017 3661 RL new and had to have the first Highpointe Convection/Microwave replaced within the first year. It was arcing with a plain white paper plate being used. Our second one just died about 5 months ago. I used my convection oven for any baking I needed to do. Have not taken it out of the wall, but we will. We did check the outlet for power and that’s ok. Microwave unit is deader than a door nail.

[sbwi3288]

I definitely sympathize with what you're going through we did replaced the microwave but we bought a brand kitchen aid with an extended warranty on it good unit we love it. But we were still like to have Keystone reimburse part of the new microwave I doubt if their own up to it companies like this never own up to anything unless they're forced to by the court if you guys are going to put together a class action lawsuit let me know it's not just about a few of us is about all of us as consumers we have to stand up.

[Tfthorp]

Not sure I agree that it is a fire hazard. There is no charring shown in those pictures. It seems to me more like warm air against the laminate which looks like it just shrunk and de-laminated. Probably not enough heat for combustion.

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by Tfthorp

Not sure I agree that it is a fire hazard. There is no charring shown in those pictures. It seems to me more like warm air against the laminate which looks like it just shrunk and de-laminated. Probably not enough heat for combustion.

Interesting thing about wood. you can heat it up and let it cool. Eventually over time the combustion temperature of wood drops to 250 degrees F.

Other pix I have seen of this, the wood is charred.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Tfthorp

Not sure I agree that it is a fire hazard. There is no charring shown in those pictures. It seems to me more like warm air against the laminate which looks like it just shrunk and de-laminated. Probably not enough heat for combustion.

If I am not mistaken, for a class action lawsuit it would only have to be a POTENTIAL fire hazard or simply causing damage on multiple units. This issue appears to be a clear case of improper installation and as such falls on Keystone.

And this isn't a situation where someone's head gets bumped. This is a serious potential fire hazard! If Keystone doesn't take this one serious and take immediate action they are leaving themselves liable. This is one if I were them I would be looking at a recall on and replacing those convection units. What I expect the cheap skates to do is put up some sort of fire retardant board behind the unit or some sort of similar band aid. Would be nice if just once they proved me wrong.

[BB_TX]

Proving a potential fire hazard would likely be very difficult unless there existed documented cases of surfaces clearly heated to the point that combustion was imminent. And then it would be a case of my “expert” vs the defendant’s “expert”. One proven case of actual fire would certainly enforce the case. But I don’t think that exist. A lawyer taking a class action suit does not get paid unless he wins or gets a lucrative settlement. So he/she would be hesitant to take on a questionable case.

One apparent fact is the number of failures of the Highpoint units. That is very likely due to the units overheating by not having a venting system to move the hot air out from behind and around the units. That is certainly something Keystone needs to address.

My Apollo Halftime unit has a fan powered vent that blows the hot air thru a metal duct out the front decorative grill. The Apollo was not the most reliable product, but at least has a good venting system.

[DQDick]

The problem getting Keystone to address this is the same problem we had for years with the tires. Keystone buys from the low bidder who's product is certified to do the job and be safe. It doesn't seem to matter a lot if that certification isn't backed up with performance in the field. Our High Point died yesterday so we'll see what happens when it's pulled out, but since it died on a relatively high setting my guess is it overheated and crapped out.