The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·07190·Announced 2007-05-16

GE Recalls 2.5 Million Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard

General Electric is recalling approximately 2.5 million built-in dishwashers because a leaking rinse-aid dispenser can cause electrical shorts and fires.

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 12 reported fires that escaped the dishwasher and 56 reports of property damage, meeting the rubric criteria for 'Severe' (significant injury/property-damage reports).

Plain-English summary

General Electric is recalling approximately 2.5 million built-in dishwashers sold under the Eterna, GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram, Hotpoint, and Sears-Kenmore brands. The recall covers units sold from September 1997 through December 2001 at department and appliance stores for about $400. The dishwashers were available in white, black, almond, bisque, and stainless steel.

The recall is due to a fire hazard. Liquid rinse-aid can leak from its dispenser onto the dishwasher's internal wiring, causing an electrical short and overheating. GE has received 191 reports of overheated wiring, including 56 reports of property damage and 12 reports of fires that escaped the dishwasher. Fire damage was limited to the dishwasher or the adjacent area, and no injuries have been reported.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers and contact General Electric for a free repair, a $150 rebate towards the purchase of a new GE dishwasher, or a $300 rebate towards the purchase of a new GE Profile or GE Monogram dishwasher. For additional information, consumers can contact General Electric toll-free at (877) 607-6395 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday or visit www.geappliances.com.

The recalled product

Product
GE Dishwashers
Manufacturer
GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky.
Category
Consumer Product — Dishwasher
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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