NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jane Francis
January 21, 1997 (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1187
Release # 97-060

CPSC and Maytag Appliances Announce Recall to Inspect and Repair Gas Dryers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maytag Appliances, a business unit of Maytag Corporation of Newton, Iowa, 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). An electrical switch in the gas dryer can malfunction. This malfunction can result in the dryer overheating, posing a potential fire hazard.

Maytag has received over 30 reports of dryer fires possibly caused by the electrical switch malfunction. In several instances, significant property damages have resulted. While one related injury has been reported, it was not a burn injury.

Maytag Appliances is inspecting and repairing at no charge to consumers gas dryers sold under the brand names Magic Chef, Admiral, Crosley, and Norge that carry serial numbers beginning with DC, EC, FC, AD, BD, CD, DD, ED, GD, HD, JD, KD, LD, and MD and Signature brand dryers that carry serial numbers beginning with 98K, 98L, 98M, 09A, 09B, 09C, 09D, 09E, 09F, 09G, 09H, 09J, 09K, and 09L. Maytag will mail notices to consumers whose gas dryers are to be inspected.

Retailers nationwide sold these gas dryers from 1989 through 1991.

Consumers should check their dryer's serial number to determine if it may be part of the inspection and repair program. The serial number is located inside the dryer's door. Consumers who have one of these dryers can call Maytag Customer Service toll-free at 1 (800) 955-6566, or write to Maytag Customer Service, P.O. Box 8021, Cleveland, Tenn. 37320-8021.

Consumers who own a dryer that is to be inspected are advised not to use the dryer until it has been repaired. Maytag media inquiries should be directed to Tom Schwartz at (515) 791-6342.


NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rick Frost
October 17, 1995 (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1166
Release # 96-005

CPSC AND MAYTAG ANNOUNCE RECALL TO INSPECT AND REPAIR DISHWASHERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maytag Corporation, of Newton, Iowa., is inspecting and repairing dishwashers with a component that can fail during use. This small electrical component, located in the base of the unit, can malfunction, overheat, and in rare circumstances, cause a fire.

Maytag has received 142 reports of component failures, including one confirmed fire that involved minor property damage. Maytag reports that most of the failures have occurred within the first eight months of the dishwasher's installation. The company will focus its inspection efforts on these dishwashers that it believes to be most at risk for component failure. There have been no reports of injuries resulting from the electrical component failures.

Maytag Corporation is inspecting and repairing at no charge to consumers certain Maytag brand dishwashers that carry serial numbers ending in one of the following pairs of letters: KF, KH, KK, KM, KQ, KS, KU, KW, KY, KZ, or MB. Maytag will mail notices to consumers whose dishwashers are to be inspected.

Maytag manufactured a total of 553,000 dishwashers with the component from March 1994 through January 1995. Maytag dealers and other retailers sold these dishwashers nationwide from April 1994 to October 1995.

Consumers should check their dishwasher's serial number to determine if it may be part of the inspection and repair program. The serial number is located in the upper left corner of the dishwasher tub, just below the countertop. Consumers who have one of these dishwashers can call Maytag Customer Service toll-free at (800) 462-9267 to arrange for their dishwasher to be inspected, or they can write the company at Maytag Customer Service, P.O. Box 8021, Cleveland, TN 37320-8021. Maytag recommends that, if consumers choose to continue to use their dishwashers prior to the inspection, they should do so only while at home, attending to the appliance.

Maytag media inquiries should be directed to Tom Schwartz, Director Corporate Communications, at (515) 791-6342.