Maytag Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard

[Paul W. Abernathy]

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2007
Release #07-094

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 675-0535
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Maytag Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Maytag(r) and Jenn-Air(r) brand dishwashers

Units: About 2.3 million

Manufacturer: Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa

Hazard: Liquid rinse-aid can leak from its dispenser and come into
contact with the dishwasher's internal wiring which can short-circuit
and ignite, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Maytag has received 135 reports of dishwasher fires,
resulting in product and/or property damage. Four injuries have been
reported, including three reports of smoke inhalation and one serious
hand laceration when operating a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in
the dishwasher.

Description: The recall involves Maytag(r) and Jenn-Air(r) under counter
or portable plastic tub dishwashers. The dishwashers have black, white,
almond, bisque and stainless steel front panels. The following model and
serial numbers are printed on a label located on the dishwasher's
plastic frame on top of or to the left of the door opening. Consumers
should contact Maytag to determine if their dishwasher is included in
this recall.

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide
from July 1997 through June 2001 for between $370 and $800.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these dishwashers,
disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit
breaker controlling it and inform all users of the dishwasher about the
risk of fire. Contact Maytag for either a free in-home repair, or a $75
cash back reimbursement following the purchase of a new Maytag(r),
Jenn-Air(r), Whirlpool(r) or KitchenAid(r) dishwasher. Consumers should
not return the dishwasher to the retailer where it was purchased, as
retailers are not prepared to take units back.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Maytag Corporation at
(800) 675-0535 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at
www.repair.maytag.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the
recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07094.html

[apolillo]

Paul,
Thanks, I went up and pulled the numbers and sure enough, I have one. On hold now for a service appointment. Here are the models affected:

BrandModel numbers MUST
begin with…Maytag®
MDB3, MDB4, MDB5,
MDB6, MDB7, MDB8,
MDB9, MDBD, MDC3,
MDC4, MDC5, DWU9SM,
AND serial numbers MUST end
with…
SQ, SS, SU, SW, SY, SZ, UB,
UD, UF, UH, UK, UM, UQ, US, UU,
UW, UY, UZ, WB, WD, WF, WH, WK,
WM, WQ, WS, WU, WW, WY, WZ,
YB, YD, YF, YH, YK, YM, YQ, YS, YU,
YW, YY, YZ

Jenn-Air®
JDB3, JDB4, JDB5,
JDB6,JDB7UB,
AND serial numbers MUST end
with…
UD, UF, UH, UK, UM, UQ, US,
UU, UW, UY, UZ, WB, WD, WF, WH,
WK, WM, WQ, WS, WU, WW, WY,
WZ, YB, YD, YF, YH, YK, YM, YQ,
YS, YU, YW, YY, YZ

Anatol