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GE brand and Universal brand drip coffeemakers

CPSC Recall #92-050 — February 3, 1992

Recall Summary

Recall Number92-050
Recall DateFebruary 3, 1992
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available

Product

GE brand and Universal brand drip coffeemakers

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- The General Electric Company (GE), today announced that it is intensifying its recall of certain GE brand and Universal brand drip coffeemakers manufactured before April 28, 1984. GE, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), launched a voluntary recall of these units in March 1991. They want to remind consumers that these coffeemakers could represent a significant fire hazard and that consumers in many areas of the U.S. still have not returned their units. The company believes that a fire hazard may occur when a supplier's thermal fuse in the coffeemaker fails to function as intended. About nine million drip coffeemakers bearing the GE or Universal brand name were manufactured between 1976 and 1984. GE has received approximately 500 reports of coffeemakers overheating. It has been alleged that one fire caused by a fuse failure resulted in two fatalities and serious personal injury to eight other people. GE has received claims that fuse failures also may have been responsible for fires that resulted in three additional deaths and 17 personal injuries. Approximately 380 of the claims involve property damage ranging in value from $300 to $1.3 million. As an incentive, GE is offering owners $10 for each recalled unit returned. A $10 check will be mailed when a unit is received by GE. GE will give consumers with recalled coffeemakers pre-paid mailing cartons. The carton will contain instructions that will tell consumers how to arrange for convenient pick-up. This innovative method of recall is aimed at reducing consumer effort and increasing the rate of return. No units made on or after April 28, 1984 are involved in this recall. To determine the date of manufacture, check the date code number stamped on the outside metal blade of the electric plug. If the number is 418 through 600, the coffeemaker is not involved in this recall. Other GE brand and Universal brand drip coffeemakers which are not involved in the recall are: - Space Maker Drip Coffeemakers (catalog numbers that include the designations SDC1, SDC2, and SDC3) - Percolators Owners of a GE brand or Universal brand drip coffeemaker are asked to read both the catalog number on the bottom of the unit and the date code stamped on the outside of the metal blades of the electric plug. If the coffeemaker is a recalled unit, consumers should call toll-free 1-800-443-9000. The recalled coffeemakers are not repairable, and owners should unplug the unit and stop using it immediately. Consumers are being asked to check the automatic drip coffeemakers at their home and place of work. The CPSC is issuing this joint warning as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

Hazard

The company believes that a fire hazard may occur when a supplier's thermal fuse in the coffeemaker fails to function as intended. They want to remind consumers that these coffeemakers could represent a significant fire hazard and that consumers in many areas of the U.S. still have not returned their units.

Incidents & Injuries

GE has received approximately 500 reports of coffeemakers overheating. It has been alleged that one fire caused by a fuse failure resulted in two fatalities and serious personal injury to eight other people. GE has received claims that fuse failures also may have been responsible for fires that resulted in three additional deaths and 17 personal injuries. Approximately 380 of the claims involve property damage ranging in value from $300 to $1.3 million.

Remedy Instructions

The recalled coffeemakers are not repairable, and owners should unplug the unit and stop using it immediately.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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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