Maytag® and Jenn-Air® brand dishwashers
CPSC Recall #07-094 — February 1, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-094 |
| Recall Date | February 1, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 2.3 million |
| Manufacturer | Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from July 1997 through June 2001 for between $370 and $800. |
Product
Maytag® and Jenn-Air® brand dishwashers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling about 2.3 million Maytag® and Jenn-Air® brand dishwashers. 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.Name of product: Maytag® and Jenn-Air® brand dishwashersUnits: About 2.3 millionManufacturer: Maytag Corp., of Newton, IowaHazard: 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® and Jenn-Air® 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.BrandModel numbers MUSTbegin with…AND serial numbers MUST end with…Maytag®MDB3, MDB4, MDB5,MDB6, MDB7, MDB8,MDB9, MDBD, MDC3,MDC4, MDC5, DWU9SM, 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, YZJenn-Air®JDB3, JDB4, JDB5,JDB6, JDB7UB, 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, YZSold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from July 1997 through June 2001 for between $370 and $800.Manufactured in: United StatesRemedy: 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®, Jenn-Air®, Whirlpool® or KitchenAid® 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 http://repair.maytag.com/other-recalls/.
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.
Remedy Instructions
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®, Jenn-Air®, Whirlpool® or KitchenAid® dishwasher. Consumers should not return the dishwasher to the retailer where it was purchased, as retailers are not prepared to take units back.
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.