Sub-Zero Model 550 / 501 Tipover Recall 1994 | CPSC

Sub-Zero 550 501 tipover recall 1994: Overview

Sub-Zero 550 501 tipover recall 1994 — this page documents the causes, observable symptoms, safe checks, and repair-cost expectations drawn from Sub-Zero owner support references and factory-certified service records. Read the sections below for the complete picture.

Sub-Zero tipover recall 1994 — Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc. voluntarily offered a free inspection program in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for approximately 61,000 Model 550 and Model 501 built-in refrigerators and freezers installed nationwide. The program was announced in response to 30 reported tipover incidents involving these units, which resulted in 9 injuries.

Hazard

In all 30 documented tipover incidents, the units involved had NOT been properly secured to the wall or surrounding cabinetry during installation. Sub-Zero built-in refrigerators are designed to be anchored during installation; units that were left unsecured were at risk of tipping forward when doors were opened or drawers were pulled out. The 9 injuries reported were associated with units that lacked proper wall anchoring.

Affected Units

  • Models: Sub-Zero 550 and Sub-Zero 501 built-in refrigerators/freezers
  • Model 501: single door configuration with motor located on the bottom
  • Model 550: drawer on the bottom, single refrigerator door, motor on top
  • Installation window: June 1989 through December 1992
  • Total units affected: approximately 61,000 nationwide
  • Sold through: kitchen dealers and appliance stores

How to Identify Your Unit

The model number and serial number are printed on the rating plate, which is located inside the refrigerator compartment — typically on the interior wall near the top or along the door frame. Units with model numbers beginning with 550 or 501 and with installation dates falling between June 1989 and December 1992 are within the affected range. If you are uncertain of the installation date, check the serial number against the production code on the rating plate or contact Sub-Zero directly.

What to Do

  1. Contact Sub-Zero Freezer Company at 800-222-7820 to request the free inspection and, if needed, correction of the installation anchoring
  2. While waiting for the inspection, avoid pulling the unit away from the wall and limit force applied to open doors or drawers
  3. Inspect the sides and rear of the unit for visible mounting hardware (L-brackets or screws securing the unit to surrounding cabinetry or wall studs)
  4. If no anchoring hardware is visible and the unit was installed in the 1989–1992 window, treat the unit as unsecured until a technician confirms otherwise
  5. Do not attempt to fabricate or install your own anchoring hardware — Sub-Zero uses specific mounting points and hardware designed for these models

Urgency Level

Historical recall — if you still own or have inherited a pre-1993 installation of these models, verify wall anchoring even if the unit was previously inspected. Anchoring hardware can loosen over decades of use, thermal cycling, and vibration. A Sub-Zero authorized service technician (diagnostic from from $145) can verify that all mounting points remain secure. For scheduling or recall inquiries, call 800-222-7820.

See Also

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