The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·16253·Announced 2016-08-25

Whirlpool Recalls Microwave Hood Combinations Due to Fire Hazard

Whirlpool is recalling about 15,200 microwave hood combinations because internal arcing can ignite plastic components, posing a fire hazard.

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 reported incidents including one home fire and two fires involving surrounding cabinets, which meets the criteria for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe classification.

Plain-English summary

Whirlpool Corporation is recalling about 15,200 Whirlpool brand microwave hood combinations. The recall involves units sold in stainless steel, black, and white. The specific model and serial numbers affected are listed in the source text, with serial numbers ranging from TR33500000 to TR34899999 for models WMH53520CS, WMH53520CW, WMH53520CB, WMH53520CE, WMH53520CH, WMH73521CS, WMH73521CW, WMH73521CB, WMH73521CE, and WMH73521CH.

The hazard is that internal arcing during use can ignite an internal plastic component, posing a fire hazard. Whirlpool has received five reports of incidents, including one home fire, two fires involving the surrounding cabinets, one report of smoke, and one report of a burning odor.

The units were sold nationwide from January 2014 through April 2016 at Best Buy, HH Gregg, Lowes, Sears, and other home improvement, home appliance, and retail stores, as well as by homebuilders. The price range was between $370 and $470. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled microwaves, unplug the units, and contact Whirlpool for a free replacement product.

The recalled product

Product
Whirlpool brand microwave hood combinations
Manufacturer
Whirlpool Corporation, of Benton Harbor, Mich.
Category
Consumer Product — Microwave Ovens
Hazard
Affected units
15,200

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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