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CPSC, W.C. Wood Company Inc. Announce Recall of Upright Freezers and Single Door Refrigerators

Note: W.C. Wood is out of business. Whirlpool is providing a free in-home repair only for recalled Amana, Maytag and Whirlpool freezers. Discontinue use of  unrepaired Crosley, Danby and Wood's freezers.

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Recall Date:
September 27, 2005

Recall Details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2005


Release #05-279

Whirlpool Hotline: (866) 580-9177

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: Automatic Defrost Upright Freezers and All-Refrigerators

Units: About 112,000

Manufacturer: W.C. Wood Company Inc., of Ottawa, Ohio

Hazard: The defrost heater coil can become exposed inside the units, which poses a potential shock hazard to consumers. In some cases the exposed heater wire can also melt, or burn the unit's interior plastic food liner.

Incidents/Injuries: W.C. Woods has received 45 reports of incidents of the defrost heater coil becoming exposed. Nine of those incidents resulted in an electrical short. The others melted and burned the unit's interior plastic liner. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled single door freezers and refrigerators are 15, 17 and 20-cubic foot Automatic Defrost Upright Freezers and 17-cubic foot Automatic Defrost All-Refrigerators that can be converted into freezers. They were sold under the brand names Amana, Crosley, Danby, Maytag, Whirlpool and Wood's, which is written on the front of the unit. The manufacturer label with the model number and date of manufacture is located on the inside of the cabinet. A list of model numbers and dates of manufacture included in the recall is listed below.

Brand Model Numbers Date of Manufacture
Amana AFU1567*, AFU1767*, AFU2067* 200209
(September 2002)

through

200402
(February 2004)
Crosley FFCR17*, WCF15*, WCF17*, WCF20*
Danby DUF1700*, DFF1708*
Maytag MQU1556*, MQU2057*
Whirlpool EV150NXM*, EV170NYL*, EV171NYM*, EV200NXK*,
EV201NXM*, EL7ATRRK*, EL7ATRRM*, EL7JWKLM*, EL7JWKRM*
Wood's F15*, F17*, F20*, F42*, F47*, F55*, WFF15*,
WFF17*, WFF20*, RFA17*, RFC17*, R47F*

 

* there are additional letters or numbers following the model numbers above

 

Sold at: Home improvement and appliance stores from September 2002 through February 2005 for between $400 and $1,000.

Manufactured in: Canada and United States

Remedy: Consumers should contact Whirlpool to arrange for a free in-home repair for Amana, Maytag or Whirlpool freezers.  There is no remedy available for unrepaired Crosley, Danby and Wood's freezers. Unplug and discontinue use of unrepaired units.

Consumer Contact: Contact Whirlpool Corp. toll-free at (866) 580-9177 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Picture of Recalled Freezer

Automatic Defrost Upright Freezer

Picture of Recalled Refrigerator

Automatic Defrost All-Refrigerator

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

If you are experiencing issues with a recall remedy or believe a company is being non-responsive to your remedy request, please use this form and explain the situation to CPSC.
About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

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