Maker of Bosch Expands Dishwasher Recall to 663,000 Models
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
The manufacturer of Bosch and other dishwasher brands today recalled 469,000 dishwashers because the power cord can overheat and catch fire. The recall is an expansion of a two-year-old recall that included 194,000 Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, and Jenn-Air dishwashers for a total of 663,000 models in the U.S. and Canada.
Over the past two years, BSH Home Appliances, which announced the recall with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has received five reports of the power cords overheating and causing fires that resulted in property damage.
In the 2015 recall, BSH reported 10 incidents of power cords overheating, including five reports of fires that caused property damage. BSH said that the overheating occurred when the dishwashers were in use, not when they were sitting idle.
No injuries have been reported.
The recall includes models manufactured over a span of seven years from January 2008 to January 2017 and sold for $850 to $2,600. They were available in stainless steel, black, white, and with the option of adding a custom panel.
Dishwasher fires are more common than you might imagine.
“According to the latest data we have, dishwashers accounted for 987 fires, three fatalities, 23 injuries, and almost $15 million in property loss from 2012 to 2015,” says Don Huber, Consumer Reports’ director of product safety.
“A significant number of dishwasher fires are attributable to electrical failure or malfunction, short circuits, improper installation, and overloading of the dishwasher,” Huber adds. “We suggest that dishwashers be installed only by certified technicians, and that you avoid overloading them.”
What To Do
BSH says that owners of the recalled dishwashers should stop using them and arrange for a free inspection and replacement power cord. The repair should take less than an hour.
If you purchased a Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, or Jenn-Air dishwasher over the past seven years, check the CPSC recall notice to see whether your model is affected—there are too many to list here. You can also call the BSH recall hotline at 888-965-5813 or go to the website of the brand you own for more information. They are:
Bosch
Gaggenau
Jenn-Air
Thermador
Before you call or go online, locate your model and serial numbers. These identifiers are printed inside the dishwasher either on the top of the inner door panel or on the side of the panel. Bosch advises owners to pay special attention to the serial number because not every unit from the same model line is included in the recall. If you enter your information on one of the websites, you’ll quickly find out whether your machine is included in the recall.
Consumer Reports has tested some of the recalled models but did not encounter problems with overheating power cords. We’ve flagged the affected models in the dishwasher ratings on our website.
More from Consumer Reports:
Top pick tires for 2016
Best used cars for $25,000 and less
7 best mattresses for couples
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2017, Consumer Reports, Inc.
