It says that, if gas leaks and builds up in an enclosed area, such as a motorhome or caravan, asphyxiation may occur.

Swift Appliances says that anyone who suspects their appliance may be one of those affected should open the glass lid and check the model number on the data plate that is on the inside front left side of the lid.

The Swift Appliance Group 500 Series Cooker/Grill and Cooktops affected by the previously announced safety recall are: 502BHSP, 502BHFW, 502DHSP, 502RHSP, 502SHFW, 502SHW, 502WBHSP, 503BHSPM, 503BHSP, 503BHSPMLG, 503BHSW, 503DHSP, 503RHSP, 503SHSPM, 503SHSW and 503BHSPN.

If the appliance is one of those affected, the company says consumers should immediately turn off the appliance and not operate it on gas.

While grey nomads understand that safety should always be the top priority, many have been intensely frustrated by what they say is a lack of clear information from Swift.

The story has now been picked up by Channel 9’s A Current Affair. In response to a series of questions from the programme, Swift Appliances, issued a media statement.

It stated that the ‘defect is confined to the 500 Series Gas Cookers produced and supplied between 01 January 2019 and 01 June 2020’.

However, it says 500 Series Gas Cookers manufactured and supplied before 01 January 2019 ‘are currently included in the recall while Swift gathers further evidence’.

The company says that all Swift 500 series cookers manufactured on or after June 1, 2020, ‘can continue to be used without restrictions’.

In its statement to a Current Affair, Swift Appliances says it has instigated a nationwide testing program to identify the exact fault in the appliance.

“We have worked with the national Gas Testing Regulator and all State regulators to determine which cookers are safe for ordinary use, which cookers must not be used while Swift gathers more information, and which cookers must not be used except for the electrical elements while Swift gathers more information,” it says. “We have contacted caravan and RV manufacturers directly about the recall.”

Tim and Heather Halls are among the many grey nomads who have had to adapt to a new cooking reality. This is what it looks like for them. PIC: Tim Halls

It says it hopes to have more clarity around the repair timeline when it has completed its tests and reported back to the State Regulators with the results. Swift says it will have updated notices on its website by July 20.

And in response to complaints about its lack of communication with consumers, Swift Appliances told a Current Affair it was doing what it could.

“We have deployed more internal resources to our customer communication and support processes,” it said. “Many customers have appreciated this. Some haven’t, which we understand, given the concerns that they would understandably have. We share those concerns and have acted upon them.”

However, grey nomads like Kevin Wilson remain unimpressed.

“A poor effort all round as far as I’m concerned!” he said.

And he is still anxiously waiting for more news so he can belatedly hitch up and head north as planned.

“Van parked at home while we wait in the freezing cold for a solution,” he said. “I’m cutting much more firewood with a chainsaw than I expected to be at my age!”

For grey nomads who are out on the road with a cooker they can’t use, a variety of innovative cooking solutions have had to be deployed. For many, devices like microwaves, slow cookers, air fryers, and portable barbecues are getting a much harder workout than usual. And others are relying on travelling fiends who do not have affected cookers to come to their culinary aid.

It’s not ideal and they, and all others with affected cookers, will be eagerly awaiting the next statement from Swift Appliances.

• Are you having to cope without your cooker while this is sorted out? Has the bad situation had any ‘upsides’ at all … perhaps like forcing you to learn new cooking methods, or helping you to ‘bond’ with other travellers in a similar situation? Or has it just been incredibly frustrating? Comment below.