FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Originally issued February 25, 2005, Revised April 8, 2005
Release # 05-123 |
Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 769-7260
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
|
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. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
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 (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.