Dishwasher recall: Fire hazard

FRIDAY, JUNE 4: The Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation in conjunction with the Department of Human Affairs and the Office of Consumer Affairs would like to advise the public that Maytag Corporation has issued a recall of Maytag Dishwashers because an electrical failure in the dishwasher’s heating element can pose a serious fire hazard.

Maytag has received 12 reports of dishwasher heating element failures that resulted in fires and dishwasher damage, including one report of extensive kitchen damage from a fire – although no injuries have been reported.

The recall is for dishwashers that were manufactured in the US and sold between February 2006 and April 2010.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 will start or end with one of the following sequences.

SERIAL number STARTING with:

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

Or SERIAL number ENDING with:

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

Customers are advised to stop using the recalled dishwashers and to disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it. 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.

For additional information, customers should contact Maytag at (800) 544-5513 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.repair.maytag.com