General Electric Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: GE Dishwashers

Units: About 2.5 million

Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky.

Hazard: Liquid rinse-aid can leak from its dispenser onto the dishwasher’s internal wiring which can cause an electrical short and overheating, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: GE has received 191 reports of overheated wiring including 56 reports of property damage. There were 12 reports of fires that escaped the dishwasher. Fire damage was limited to the dishwasher or the adjacent area. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall includes GE built-in dishwashers sold under the following brand names: Eterna, GE, GE Profile™, GE Monogram®, Hotpoint®, and Sears-Kenmore. The dishwashers were sold in white, black, almond, bisque and stainless steel. The brand name is printed on the dishwasher’s front control panel. The following model and serial numbers can be found inside the dishwasher tub on the front left side of the dishwasher.

Brand	Model numbers MUST begin with…	Serial numbers MUST begin with…
Eterna	EDW20, EDW30	SS, TS, VS, ZS, AT, DT, FT, GT, HT, LT, MT, RT, ST, TT, VT, ZT, AV, DV, FV, GV, HV, LV, MV, RV, SV, TV, VV, ZV, AZ, DZ, FZ, GZ, HZ, LZ, MZ, RZ, SZ, TZ, VZ, ZZ, AA, DA, FA, GA, HA, LA, MA, RA, SA, TA, VA, ZA
GE and GE Profile	GHD50, GSD40, GSD41, GSD43, GSD46, GSD4910Z, GSD4920Z, GSD4930Z, GSD4940Z0, GSD50, GSD51, GSD521, GSD522, GSD523, GSD531, GSD532, GSD533, GSD535, GSD536, GSD55, GSD56, GSD57, GSD58, GSD59, GSDL3, GSDL6
GE Monogram	ZBD3500Z0
Hotpoint	HDA3400F, HDA35	SS, TS, VS, ZS, AT, DT, FT, GT, HT, LT, MT, RT, ST, TT, VT, ZT, AV, DV, FV, GV, HV, LV, MV, RV, SV, TV, VV, ZV, AZ, DZ, FZ, GZ, HZ, LZ, MZ, RZ, SZ, TZ, VZ, ZZ
GE and GE Profile	GHD35, GSD21, GSD2200D, GSD2200F, GSD2200G, GSD2201F, GSD2220F, GSD2221F, GSD2230F, GSD2231F, GSD2250F GSD23, GSD26, GSD27, GSD3115F, GSD3125F, GSD3135F, GSD3200G, GSD3210F, GSD3220F, GSD3230F, GSD33, GSD341, GSD342, GSD343, GSD345, GSD3610F, GSD3620F, GSD3630F, GSD3650F GSD37, GSD381, GSD382, GSD383, GSD385, GSD391, GSD392, GSD393, GSD4525F, GSD4535F, GSD4555F, GSDL122F, GSDL132F, GSDL24, GSM2100F, GSM2100G, GSM2100Z0, GSM2110D, GSM2110F, GSM2130D, GSM2130F
Sears-Kenmore	363.1438, 363.1447, 363.1445, 363.1448, 363.1457, 363.1467, 363.1475, 363.15161792, 363.1517, 363.1521, 363.1527, 363.1528, 363.1531, 363.1532, 363.1546, 363.1547, 363.1548, 363.1556, 363.1565, 363.1567, 363.1617, 363.1655	SS, TS, VS, ZS, AT, DT, FT, GT, HT, LT, MT, RT, ST, TT, VT, ZT, AV, DV, FV, GV, HV, LV, MV, RV, SV, TV, VV, ZV, AZ, DZ, FZ, GZ, HZ, LZ, MZ, RZ, SZ, TZ, VZ, ZZ

Sold at: Department and appliance stores from September 1997 through December 2001 for about $400.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers and contact General Electric for a free repair, a $150 rebate towards the purchase of a new GE dishwasher, or a $300 rebate towards the purchase of a new GE Profile or GE Monogram dishwasher.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact General Electric toll-free at (877) 607-6395 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday. Consumers also can visit the firm’s Web site at www.geappliances.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Maytag Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Maytag® and Jenn-Air® brand dishwashers

Units: About 2.3 million

Manufacturer: Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa.

Hazard: Liquid rinse-aid can leak from its dispenser and come into contact with the dishwasher’s internal wiring which can short-circuit and ignite, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Maytag has received 135 reports of dishwasher fires, resulting in product and/or property damage. Four injuries have been reported, including three reports of smoke inhalation and one serious hand laceration when operating a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in the dishwasher.

Description:The recall involves Maytag® and Jenn-Air® under counter or portable plastic tub dishwashers. The dishwashers have black, white, almond, bisque and stainless steel front panels. The following model and serial numbers are printed on a label located on the dishwasher’s plastic frame on top of or to the left of the door opening. Consumers should contact Maytag to determine if their dishwasher is included in this recall.

Brand	Model numbers MUST begin with…	AND serial numbers MUST end with…
Maytag®	MDB3, MDB4, MDB5, MDB6, MDB7, MDB8, MDB9, MDBD, MDC3, MDC4, MDC5, DWU9	SM, SQ, SS, SU, SW, SY, SZ, UB, UD, UF, UH, UK, UM, UQ, US, UU, UW, UY, UZ, WB, WD, WF, WH, WK, WM, WQ, WS, WU, WW, WY, WZ, YB, YD, YF, YH, YK, YM, YQ, YS, YU, YW, YY, YZ
Jenn-Air®	JDB3, JDB4, JDB5, JDB6, JDB7	UB, UD, UF, UH, UK, UM, UQ, US, UU, UW, UY, UZ, WB, WD, WF, WH, WK, WM, WQ, WS, WU, WW, WY, WZ, YB, YD, YF, YH, YK, YM, YQ, YS, YU, YW, YY, YZ

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from July 1997 through June 2001 for between $370 and $800.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these dishwashers, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it and inform all users of the dishwasher about the risk of fire. Contact Maytag for either a free in-home repair, or a $75 cash back reimbursement following the purchase of a new Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Whirlpool® or KitchenAid® dishwasher. Consumers should not return the dishwasher to the retailer where it was purchased, as retailers are not prepared to take units back.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Maytag Corporation at (800) 675-0535 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.repair.maytag.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

CPSC, Whirlpool Corporation Announce Recall of Dishwashers

Note: Description and Remedy Change

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Whirlpool® and Kenmore® brand dishwashers

Units: About 162,000

Manufacturer: Whirlpool Corporation, of Benton Harbor, Mich.

Hazard: An electrical defect within the dishwashers’ wash motor wiring poses a risk of the motor overheating and possibly catching fire.

Incidents/Injuries: Whirlpool Corporation has received three reports of overheated wash motors. There are no reports of personal injury or property damage.

Description:The recalled products are Whirlpool® brand and Kenmore® brand (made by Whirlpool Corporation) under-the-counter, plastic tall tub dishwashers. The dishwashers come with black, white, biscuit, or stainless front panels. They have the following model and serial numbers located inside the tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening:

Brand	Product	Model Number Begins With	Serial Number Range
Whirlpool®	Under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwashers	DU1 DUL GU1 GU2 GU6	FR2200000 to FR2499999
Kenmore®	Under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwashers	665.143 665.160 665.163 665.170 665.173	FR2200000 to FR4599999

*Not all dishwashers within the serial number range are included in the recall. Consumers should call Whirlpool to determine if their dishwasher is included in this recall.

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and through homebuilders nationwide from June 2004 through January 2005 for between $350 and $600.

Manufactured in: The dishwashers were manufactured in Findlay, Ohio, and the motors were manufactured in China.

Remedy: Consumers with one of these dishwashers should immediately stop using it, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it, and inform all users of the dishwasher not to use it due to the risk of fire. Consumers should call Whirlpool to determine if their dishwasher is included in this recall. If it is included, Whirlpool Corporation will schedule a free in-home repair. Please do not return the dishwasher to the retailer where it was purchased, as retailers are not prepared to take them back. If you own a Whirlpool® brand and Kenmore® brand under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwasher and have had service on your wash motor between August 2004 and January 2005, please call Whirlpool Corporation to determine if your unit is included in this recall and to schedule a free, in-home inspection.

Consumer Contact: Call Whirlpool Corporation toll free at (866) 769-7260 anytime, or go to the firm’s Web site at repair.whirlpool.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

CPSC, GE Announce Recall of Built-In Dishwashers

Note: Firm Web Site Reference Deletion

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: General Electric Built-in Dishwashers

Units: About 74,300

Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial of Louisville, Ky.

Hazard: These dishwashers have a connector that can short-circuit and overheat during normal use, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: GE received 29 reports of connectors overheating, including one report of a fire that spread outside the dishwasher and caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The following models are included in this recall and were sold after January 20, 2004: GE dishwasher models GSD5500G, GSD5560G, GSD5800G, GSD5900G, GSD5960G, EDW3000G, and EDW3060G, with serial numbers with the first letter A through T and the second letter G, or the serial letters VF. The serial number is important as not all dishwashers with these model numbers are included in this recall. The model and serial number are located inside the door wall of the dishwasher.

Sold at: Appliance retail outlets and builder distributors nationwide from January 2004 through February 2005 for between $300 and $400.

Manufactured in: USA

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the dishwasher and contact GE to arrange for their dishwashers to be repaired free of charge.

Consumer Contact: Consumers should call GE at (800) 804-9802 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday to find out if their dishwasher is included in this recall, and to arrange for a free service call.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Certain Sears Kenmore Dishwashers May Pose Fire Hazard

PRODUCT: Sears Kenmore dishwashers sold after February 1990.

PROBLEM: The dishwasher's timer may catch fire. There have been 30 reports of timer failures due to shorting out and overheating. Four units have developed fires resulting in smoke damage to the surrounding countertops and cabinets.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers with affected dishwashers should immediately stop using them and call 1-800-998-8470 to arrange for free repair.

WASHINGTON,DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sears Merchandise Group is voluntarily contacting customers regarding 21 Kenmore dishwasher models sold in the last three years that could experience a timer failure that may result in a fire hazard. Sears is providing free service to correct the problem.

Currently, 30 units of about 400,000 units sold have experienced timer failures due to shorting out and overheating. To date, four units have developed fires which resulted in smoke damage to the surrounding countertop and cabinets. Sears has no reports of injuries due to the fires or timer failures.

Sears said it is working closely with its source, Frigidaire Company, the manufacturer of the dishwasher and the supplier of the necessary new parts, to respond as quickly as possible to customer requests. Sears will be using additional technicians for service calls.

On February 6, Sears began sending letters to more than 300,000 customers who purchased one of the affected Kenmore dishwasher models made between February 1990 and October 1992. Sears is asking customers who have not yet received letters to check the model of their dishwasher against the list below. Owners of listed models should discontinue using the dishwasher immediately and turn the power off or unlatch the dishwasher's door until serviced. Sears is asking customers to call toll- free, 1-800-998-8470 for free service. Owners should have the model and serial numbers on hand when calling. Model and serial numbers are on the inside right door seal of the dishwasher's tub.

The problem stems from the possibility of units developing an internal leak that may cause the dishwasher's timer mechanism to short out and overheat. Under certain circumstances, an overheated timer can cause a fire. To correct the problem, a Sears service technician will install new parts and inspect and replace other components as needed in the dishwasher door. Service will be done at no cost to the customer.

Consumers who bought Kenmore dishwashers after February 1990 should check the model and serial numbers of their dishwasher against the list below.

The following models are affected:

MODELS	START SERIAL #		ENDING SERIAL #
587.1400090		ALL
587.1400190		ALL
587.1400890		ALL
587.1400990		ALL
587.1440090		ALL
587.1440590		ALL
587.1469089		ALL
587.1469589		ALL
587.1510590		ALL
587.1511590	14912690492	THRU	15753461092
587.1530590		ALL
587.1540590		ALL
587.1541590	14056531191	THRU	15764571092
587.1550590		ALL
587.1551590	14056581191	THRU	15752861092
587.1574590	13637650991	THRU	15692691092
587.1630590		ALL
587.1640590		ALL
587.1641590	14203401291	THRU	15843721092
587.1650590		ALL
587.1651590	14186181191	THRU	15556951092

CPSC is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.