The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·97060·Announced 1997-01-21

Maytag Recalls Gas Dryers to Inspect and Repair Fire Hazard

Maytag is inspecting and repairing up to 73,000 gas dryers from 1989-1991 because an electrical switch malfunction can cause overheating and fire.

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 over 30 reported fires and significant property damage, meeting the rubric criteria for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe category.

Plain-English summary

Maytag Appliances, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is inspecting and repairing up to 73,000 older gas dryers produced under the Magic Chef, Admiral, Crosley, Norge, and Signature brands. Maytag brand dryers are not involved. These dryers were sold nationwide from 1989 through 1991.

An electrical switch in the gas dryer can malfunction, resulting in the dryer overheating and posing a potential fire hazard. Maytag has received over 30 reports of dryer fires possibly caused by this malfunction, with several instances resulting in significant property damage. One related injury has been reported, which was not a burn injury.

Consumers should check their dryer's serial number, located inside the dryer's door, to determine if it is part of the program. Affected serial numbers for Magic Chef, Admiral, Crosley, and Norge dryers begin with DC, EC, FC, AD, BD, CD, DD, ED, GD, HD, JD, KD, LD, and MD. Signature brand dryers have serial numbers beginning with 98K, 98L, 98M, 09A, 09B, 09C, 09D, 09E, 09F, 09G, 09H, 09J, 09K, and 09L. Maytag will mail notices to affected consumers. Owners of these dryers are advised not to use them until they have been repaired. Consumers can call Maytag Customer Service toll-free at 1 (800) 955-6566 or write to P.O. Box 8021, Cleveland, Tenn. 37320-8021.

The recalled product

Product
Admiral gas dryers
Manufacturer
Norge
Category
Consumer Product — Gas Dryers
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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