The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·01054·Announced 2000-12-14

GE and Hotpoint Dishwashers Recalled for Fire Hazard

GE and Hotpoint dishwashers manufactured between 1983 and 1989 are recalled because a slide switch can melt and ignite, creating a fire risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard with approximately 90 incidents of fire, smoking, and melted switches, including 14 fires that spread beyond the dishwasher, which meets the criteria for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe category.

Plain-English summary

General Electric Appliances Co. is recalling GE and Hotpoint dishwashers manufactured between 1983 and 1989. The recall involves models beginning with GSD500D, GSD500G, GSD540, HDA467, HDA477, or HDA487 with a serial number that has a second letter of A, M, R, S, T, V, or Z. Approximately 3.1 million units were manufactured. The hazard is that the dishwashers have a slide switch that can melt and ignite, presenting a fire hazard.

There have been approximately 90 incidents of fire, smoking, and melted switches, 14 of which included fires that spread beyond the dishwasher. Approximately 10 incidents have occurred since the recall announcement. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers should contact GE at 1-800-599-2929 or visit www.geappliancerecall.com to schedule a free rewiring or participate in the original rebate program. Until the dishwasher is rewired, consumers should keep the dishwasher door unlatched at all times to prevent the flow of electrical current that creates a risk of fire.

The recalled product

Product
GE and Hotpoint dishwashers
Manufacturer
General Electric Appliances Co., of Louisville, Ky.
Category
Consumer Product — Dishwashers
Hazard
Affected units
1,983

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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