06/03/2010 // West Palm Beach, Florida, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Benton Harbor, MI—Maytag Corp., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), voluntarily recalled dishwashers due to the fire hazard they may pose to consumers. The CPSC announced the product safety recall on Thursday, June 3, 2010.
Approximately 1.7 million dishwashers were affected by the recall, which was issued with regard to an electrical defect in the dishwasher’s heating element. If an electrical failure in the home appliance were to occur, a serious fire could be ignited.
The company, which is based both in Benton Harbor, Michigan and Newton, Iowa, received 12 reports of electrical failures in the affected dishwasher’s hearing element. All of the reported incidents resulted in fires and dishwasher damage.
were reported in connection with the potentially dangerous dishwashers.
According to the CPSC, “The recall includes Maytag®, Amana®, Jenn-Air®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand dishwashers with plastic tubs and certain serial numbers. The affected dishwashers were manufactured with black, bisque, white, silver and stainless steel front panels. The brand name is printed on the front of the dishwasher. The model and serial numbers are printed on a label located inside the plastic tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening.”
Serial numbers affected by the recall begin with one of the following:
• NW39, NW40, NW41, NW42, NW43, NW44, NW45, NW46, NW47, NW48, NW49, NW50, NW51, NW52, NY01, NY02, NY03, NY04, NY05, NY06, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY16, NY17, NY18, NY19
And end with one of the following:
• JC, JE, JG, JJ, JL, JN, JP, JR, JT, JV, JX, LA, LC, LE, LG, LJ, LL, LN, LP, LR, LT, LV, LX, NA, NC, NE, NG, NJ, NL, NN, NP, NR
The recalled dishwashers were made available for purchase in department and appliance stores nationwide between February 2006 and April 2010. Homebuilders sold the dishwashers as well. Prices ranged from between $250and $900.
Consumers have been urged to cease use of the faulty dishwashers immediately. The company also advised consumers to shut off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling the dishwashers as a means of disconnecting the electric supply. All users of the dishwasher should be notified of its potential threats as well. Also, consumers are urged to contact Maytag to verify whether their dishwasher is affected by the recall.
“If the dishwasher is included in the recall, consumers can either schedule a free in-home repair or receive a rebate following the purchase of certain new Maytag brand stainless-steel tub dishwashers. The rebate is $150 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB7759, MDB7609 or MDBH979; or $250 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB8959, MDB8859, MDB7809 or MDB7709. Consumers should not return the recalled dishwashers to the retailer where purchased as retailers are not prepared to take the units back,” the CPSC news released added.
Maytag can be reached at (800) 544-5513 at any time. The company can also be contacted online at www.Repair.Maytag.com.
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