GE Profile™ top-loading clothes washers
CPSC Recall #16-265 — September 15, 2016
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 16-265 |
| Recall Date | September 15, 2016 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 222,000 (in addition, about 450 were sold in Canada) |
| Manufacturer | GE Appliances, of Louisville, Ky. |
| Importer | GEA Products, L.P., of Louisville, Ky. |
| Manufactured In | South Korea |
Where It Was Sold
| Best Buy |
| Lowe’s |
| Sears |
| The Home Depot and other stores nationwide from June 2003 through October 2011 for between $900 and $1 |
| 400. |
Product
GE Profile™ top-loading clothes washers
Description
The recall involves three models of GE Profile high-efficiency top-loading clothes washers. The washers come in gold, gray and white and measure about four cubic feet. “GE Profile” is printed on the front of the washers. The model number is located on the rear cover of the washer’s backsplash, above the water valve connections. Recalled washers have the following model and serial number ranges: Brand Model Serial Number GE Profile WPGT9350 WPGT9360 WPGT9150 All serial numbers included
Hazard
An electrical component in the washers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
GE Appliances has received 71 reports of internal washer components burning or catching fire, including three reports of fires resulting in about $129,000 in property damage. No injuries have been reported
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the recalled washers and contact GE Appliances for a free repair.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.