Safety Agency, Samsung Recall 2.8 Million Top-Loading Washing Machines
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Samsung Friday announced a recall of 2.8 million of the company’s top-loading washing machines following reports that some exploded.
The safety agency said Samsung has received 733 reports of “excessive vibration or the top detaching from the washing machine chassis.” It added that the reports include nine injuries, including one person who suffered a broken jaw.
People who own one of the top-loaders can get a free in-home repair, which includes a one-year warranty extension. (This option isn’t available now for mid-control models, Samsung said.)
Owners can also opt for a rebate toward the purchase of another washing machine, including one from another brand. The amount depends on when the machine was made and the model. Owners who buy another Samsung washer get up to $150 more. This part of the deal also includes free installation and removal of the old washing machine.
People who bought their machines in the last 30 days can also choose to receive a full refund.
Everyone who owns one of the models will receive in the mail a home label kit that includes a control panel guide, warning labels and a supplement to the owner manual.
You can figure out whether your model is affected by using a tool on Samsung's website.
In the meantime, owners should use the delicate or waterproof cycles when washing bedding, water-resistant or bulky items, Samsung said.
The reports of problems with the top-loaders surfaced in September. Consumer Reports at that time suspended recommended status for any top-loading Samsung washers that had earned that designation in its washing-machine tests.
“Our priority is to reduce any safety risks in the home and to provide our customers with easy and simple choices in response to the recall,” John Herrington, senior vice president and general manager of home appliances, Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement Friday. “We are moving quickly and in partnership with the CPSC to ensure consumers know the options available to them and that any disruption in the home is minimized.”
Samsung has been stung in recent months by product problems. It twice had to put out recall notices on its Galaxy Note7 and ultimately ended production of the smartphone after numerous reports that the phone exploded. And in July, the company’s Galaxy S7 Active failed Consumer Reports’ water-resistance test.
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