Dryer Recall Information

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Residential Super-large Gas Dryers

Units: About 3,100

Importer: Miele Inc., of Princeton, N.J.

Hazard: If the dryer is improperly installed, the dryer’s internal gas fitting can loosen, posing a risk of gas leaking into the house. Any gas leak that is not detected can cause asphyxiation, a fire or an explosion. Also, one or both of the caps on the internal exhaust duct can become dislodged, which can cause lint to build up and be carried through the gas burner. This poses a risk of fire.

Incidents/Injuries: Miele has received 11 reports worldwide in which consumers reported smelling gas after installation of their dryers. The firm has also received a report of a fire causing property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall involves Miele gas dryers, model T 9820. The dryers are residential super-large capacity units that are white-colored. The serial number can be located on the rim of the door opening, and is written as “Nr:xx/” followed by an 8-digit number in the range from 66461685 to 89921848.

Sold by: Miele distributors nationwide between March 2007 and December 2007 for about $1,300.

Manufactured in: Czech Republic

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled dryer immediately and turn off the gas supply to the unit. The firm has sent direct notices to consumers. Consumers who have not had their dryer inspected should contact a Miele authorized service provider for a free inspection and repair, if necessary. Dryers serviced since January 23, 2008 have been inspected/repaired.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Miele at (800) 420-1813 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.miele.com.

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: GE Gas Clothes Dryers

Units: About 2,100

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

Hazard: A short circuit in the dryer’s wiring poses a shock hazard to consumers with ungrounded dryers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled gas dryers are 42 inches tall (back with backsplash) and 27 inches wide, and were sold in white. GE gas dryers model number DWXR463GGWW with serial numbers starting with AM, TL, SL, VL, and ZL are included in this recall. To find the model and serial numbers, open the dryer door and look in the lower right corner, in the area that was covered by the door.

Sold by: Retail stores, and authorized builder distributors nationwide from September 2006 through October 2007 for about $440.

Manufactured in: Canada

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled dryers immediately, unplug the dryer, and contact GE for further instructions and to schedule a free, in-home inspection and repair. GE is directly contacting consumers who purchased the recalled dryers.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GE toll-free at (866) 324-3732 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://geappliances.com

Firm’s Media Contact: Kim Freeman at (502) 452-7819 or kim_freeman@ge.com

Office of Information and Public Affairs

The recalled 24-inch washer and gas dryer units were sold under the Whirlpool®, Kenmore® and General Electric® brand names, which is written on the control panel of the units. They are white or light tan. The model and serial number are located behind the dryer door at the top of the opening. Model and serial numbers of units covered by this recall are as follows:

Home improvement and department stores, new construction builders and remodelers sold these units nationwide from January 2000 through May 2002 for between $800 and $960.

Consumers should stop using these washer and gas dryer units and unplug them immediately. Do not attempt to shut off the gas supply. Call toll free at (866) 251-1607 anytime to arrange a free in-home service and repair. For more information, consumers can visit Whirlpool's recall web site at www.repair.whirlpool.com. Consumers should have the model and serial numbers of their washer and gas dryer units available when they call.

Washer and dryer units with electric dryers are not involved in the recall.

Rent-A-Center Announces A Retrofit Program For Owners Or Users Of Speed Queen Contempo Mate Washer/Dryer Equipped With Caster -- Rollers
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rent-A-Center, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas, is voluntarily offering a retrofit program originally offered by Speed Queen for customers who either own or rent a Speed Queen Contempo Mate Stack combination washer-dryer with caster-rollers. The program is intended to eliminate the possibility that consumers could receive a hand or foot injury from the appliance when in operation. The casters elevate the appliance high enough off the floor to allow children to contact some of the washer's moving parts.

Rent-A-Center will supply all its customers with a permanent guard for the base of the Contempo Mate Washer/Dryer equipped with caster-rollers. Casters permit consumers to roll the appliance to the water and drain source for clothes washing, and then to return the unit to another area for convenient storage.

For those Rent-A-Center customers needing special assistance, Rent-A-Center has the retrofit safety guards at its service centers and will provide free installation of the guard for its customers.

Rent-A-Center customers owning or renting the Speed Queen Contempo Mate Stack Washer/Dryer with caster-rollers should call Rent-A-Center toll-free at 1-800-666-8186 to obtain the free guard kit, obtain help in installing the guard, or for other information about the retrofit program.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from 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 obtain this release and recall information or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.