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Rheem electric water heaters

CPSC Recall #16-177 — May 26, 2016

Recall Summary

Recall Number16-177
Recall DateMay 26, 2016
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 54,000
Manufacturer"Rheem Sales Company Inc., of Montgomery, Ala."
Manufactured InU.S. and Mexico

Where It Was Sold

The Home Depot stores nationwide and online from January 2014 through April 2016 for between $450 and $720.  

Product

Rheem electric water heaters

Description

The control panel on the Performance Platinum water heaters can overheat.

Hazard

The control panel on the water heaters can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Incidents & Injuries

The firm has received 296 reports of control panels overheating, including one report of a fire which resulted in $5,800 in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using the recalled water heaters. Consumers should contact Rheem to request a free repair by a Rheem field technician.

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.

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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.

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