Liebherr Recalls Built-In Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Door Can Detach
CPSC Recall #11-153 — March 2, 2011
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 11-153 |
| Recall Date | March 2, 2011 |
| Remedy Type | — |
| Units Affected | "About 5,702 units" |
| Manufacturer | "Liebherr-Hausgeraete Lienz GmbH, of Austria" |
| Importer | "Liebherr-Canada Ltd of Ontario, of Canada" |
| Manufactured In | Austria |
Where It Was Sold
| "Appliance and specialty retailers nationwide from February 2004 through January 2011 for between $4 |
| 400 and $5 |
| 000." |
Description
The refrigerator's door can detach.
Hazard
"The refrigerator's door can detach, posing an injury hazard to consumers."
Incidents & Injuries
Liebherr has received ten reports of doors detaching. No injuries reported.
Remedy Instructions
"Consumers with recalled refrigerators should contact Liebherr immediately to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should check their refrigerator immediately to see whether the door hinge pin has become loose as indicated by a popped up hinge pin at the top or bottom. If the hinge has not become loose and the door is functioning properly, consumers may continue to use the refrigerator until it is repaired."
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy 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 (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.