| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| August 26, 1982 | |
| Release # 82-035 | |
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the General Electric Company (GE) advises owners of certain GE drip coffeemakers that a potential fire hazard may be present in some units manufactured before June 1978.
The hazard may occur when a thermal fuse in the coffeemaker occasionally fails to function as intended during an overheat condition. GE has received over 400 reports of overheating, counter top damage or fires. These incidents have resulted in 11 claims involving hand and foot burns or smoke inhalation. GE estimates that approximately 200,000 of these coffeemakers are still in use.
GE has voluntarily instituted a national program to replace the drip coffeemakers in question, Owners of GE coffeemakers are asked to read both the catalog number on the bottom of the coffeemaker and the date code stamped on the outside of the metal blades of the electric plug.
If the unit is identified as in the table below, owners should call the GE Answer Center, a 24-hour, toll free service, at l-800-626-2000 for complete information on free replacement. No other coffeemakers or other products are involved.
Identification Table
| Catalog Number | Date Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Bl-3385-0, Bl-3382-0 | with Date Code between | 634 thru 717 |
| Bl-3390-0 | with Date Code between | 704 thru 717 |
| Bl or B2-3387-0 | with Date Code between | 618 thru 822 |
In addition to this announcement, GE will reach owners of the units in question through:
- Owner Registration Cards
- Notice to Consumers in Replacement Carafe and Filter Packages
- Notice to Consumers with Mail-In Orders for Replacement Parts
Consumers who identify their drip coffeemakers according to the above table are advised to stop using it, to unplug the unit, and not attempt to disassemble or service it themselves.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help 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 40 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 @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800