General Electric (GE) drip coffeemakers
CPSC Recall #82-035 - August 25, 1982
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 82-035 |
| Recall Date | August 25, 1982 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 200,000 |
Product
General Electric (GE) drip coffeemakers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the General Electric Company (GE) advises owners of certain GE drip coffeemakers that a potential fire hazard may be present in some units manufactured before June 1978. The hazard may occur when a thermal fuse in the coffeemaker occasionally fails to function as intended during an overheat condition. GE has received over 400 reports of overheating, counter top damage or fires. These incidents have resulted in 11 claims involving hand and foot burns or smoke inhalation. GE estimates that approximately 200,000 of these coffeemakers are still in use. GE has voluntarily instituted a national program to replace the drip coffeemakers in question, Owners of GE coffeemakers are asked to read both the catalog number on the bottom of the coffeemaker and the date code stamped on the outside of the metal blades of the electric plug. If the unit is identified as in the table below, owners should call the GE Answer Center, a 24-hour, toll free service, at 1-800-626-2000 for complete information on free replacement. No other coffeemakers or other products are involved. Identification Table Catalog Number Date Code B1-3385-0, Bl-3382-0 with Date Code between 634 thru 717 B1-3390-0 with Date Code between 704 thru 717 B1 or B2-3387-0 with Date Code between 618 thru 822 In addition to this announcement, GE will reach owners of the units in question through: Owner Registration Cards Notice to Consumers in Replacement Carafe and Filter Packages Notice to Consumers with Mail-In Orders for Replacement Parts Consumers who identify their drip coffeemakers according to the above table are advised to stop using it, to unplug the unit, and not attempt to disassemble or service it themselves.
Hazard
The General Electric Company (GE) advises owners of certain GE drip coffeemakers that a potential fire hazard may be present in some units manufactured before June 1978. The hazard may occur when a thermal fuse in the coffeemaker occasionally fails to function as intended during an overheat condition.
Incidents & Injuries
GE has received over 400 reports of overheating, countertop damage or fires. These incidents have resulted in 11 claims involving hand and foot burns or smoke inhalation.
Remedy Instructions
GE has voluntarily instituted a national program to replace the drip coffeemakers in question. Owners should call the GE Answer Center, a 24-hour, toll free service, at 1-800-626-2000 for complete information on free replacement.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.