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Maytag Recalls Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. We have reproduced the news release by CPSC in its entirety below.

News from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2009
Release # 09-145 Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 533-9817
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
 

Name of Product: Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators

Units: About 1.6 million

Manufacturer: Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa

Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Maytag has received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

Description: The recall includes certain Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side by side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel. They have model and serial numbers printed on a label located on the top middle or left upper side of the refrigerator liner and have the following model and serial number combinations:

Side by Side Refrigerators: Serial Numbers ENDING with  AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, CA, CC, CE, CG, CJ, CL, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ

AND Model Numbers BEGINNING with ARS, CS, JC, JS, MS, MZ, PS

Top Freezer Refrigerators:  Serial Numbers ENDING with  AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ

AND  Model Numbers BEGINNING with AT, CT, MT, PT

Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004 for between about $350 and $1600.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Maytag toll-free at
(866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.repair.maytag.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call

• CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or
• CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or
• visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html.
• To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
• Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

For information about your legal rights, or if you have been injured by a defective product, please contact Regan Zambri & Long at 202-463-3030.

Full post as published by DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog on May 14, 2009 (boomark / email).