The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·77090·Announced 1977-08-22

Amana Recalls Side-by-Side Refrigerators Due to Electrical Shock Hazard

Amana is repairing approximately 240,000 side-by-side refrigerators manufactured between 1969 and 1974 due to a risk of severe electrical shock.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that consumers may be 'severely shocked' and reports 41 shock incidents, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury' reports.

Plain-English summary

Amana Refrigeration, Inc. has announced a voluntary corrective action program for approximately 240,000 Amana side-by-side refrigerator/freezers manufactured between February 1969 and September 1974. The affected units include models SR 17, SR 19, SR 22, SR 25, SD 19, SD 22, and SD 25. These specific units can be identified by serial numbers beginning with the letters S, E, B, L, A, or C, located on the plate behind the removable black grill at the front of the appliance.

The recall addresses a defect in the hinge wire assembly within the doors, which powers the butter keeper heaters and anti-sweat devices. Frequent door opening can cause the wire to wear, leading to contact between the bare wire and the inside of the door. This creates a risk that a person grasping both doors simultaneously could receive a severe electrical shock. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has received reports of forty-one shock incidents related to this defect.

Amana is contacting owners by letter to advise them to perform modifications to eliminate the hazard without delay. Consumers who own these products should contact Amana via their toll-free number or write to the company directly to obtain instructions. If Amana cannot be reached, consumers should contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's hotline.

The recalled product

Product
Amana side by side refrigerators
Manufacturer
Amana

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.