Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Defective Refrigerators Cause Fire Hazard
Boston product injury attorney Thomas M. Kiley, concentrates on legal issues surrounding defective consumer goods.
Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of 1.6 million refrigerators because of a fire hazard.
Today reported that Maytag Corporation of Newton, Iowa is issuing the enormous refrigerator recall because of an electrical failure in the refrigerator's relay that poses a fire hazard. The relay is the component that engages the refrigerator's compressor.
The refrigerators are from these brands:
- Maytag,
- Jenn-Air,
- Amana,
- Admiral,
- Magic Chef,
- Performa by Maytag and
- Crosley brand refrigerators.
The recalled Maytag side-by-side and top-freezer refrigerators were manufactured in the U.S. and sold in department and appliance stores and by home builders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004. The recalled Maytag refrigerators retailed for between about $350 and $1600. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel.
According to the report, an electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Maytag has received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.
Consumer Reports said that Maytag and the CPSC are urging consumers to contact Maytag as soon as possible to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased. The CPSC is not asking owners to unplug the recalled refrigerators as repairs are expected to be made promptly.
Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom are not included in the recall. The recalled refrigerators have model and serial numbers printed on a label located on the top middle or upper left side of the refrigerator liner and have model and serial number combinations. For particular serial numbers and models, please see the CPSC website.
Consumer Reports cited a 2.3 million unit recall of Maytag and Jenn-Air dishwashers, which were sold between July 1997 and June 2001, also over a fire hazard. In that case, the recall followed 135 reports of dishwasher fires that were linked to product and/or property damage and, in at least four cases, injuries.
If you have been seriously hurt due to faulty products, contact the Boston defective product injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group for a Free Consultation.
Explore your legal options today.
Call 1-888-208-1695.
