The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·83014·Announced 1983-01-24

Westinghouse and Broan Recall Electric Motors for Attic Ventilators

Westinghouse and Broan are recalling approximately 16,000 electric motors for specific attic ventilators because miswiring may cause overheating and fires.

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 recall involves a fire hazard with one reported fire incident, which aligns with the rubric criteria for 'Severe' severity involving significant injury or property-damage reports.

Plain-English summary

Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Broan Manufacturing Co. are voluntarily recalling approximately 16,000 electric motors supplied for Broan Model 346 and Nautilus Model N346 roof-mounted attic ventilators. The recall is due to a miswiring defect that may cause the motors to overheat and start fires under certain conditions.

The affected ventilators were sold nationwide through electric supply houses to builders and contractors, and through home centers directly to consumers. The units were manufactured and sold after April 1978. The specific motors subject to the recall have a Westinghouse sticker with model number E322P159, are painted gray, and feature 12 rectangular holes on the bottom. Only motors with the model number E322P159 and date codes stamped SER*78 or SER*79 (where * is any letter) are affected.

Owners should inspect their attic ventilators for the model (series) 346 or N346 label on the thermostatic control or inside the dome. If the unit is affected, owners must disconnect or turn off the ventilator and contact Westinghouse Electric Corporation at 1-800-637-1453. A new motor will be supplied and installed by service personnel free of charge. The manufacturer has received one report of fire, but no consumers have been injured.

The recalled product

Product
Broan roof-mounted attic ventilators
Manufacturer
Westinghouse

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.