Maytag recalls 2.3 million dishwashers Fri Feb 2, 8:06 AM ET



Maytag is voluntarily recalling 2.3 million Maytag and Jenn-Air
brand dishwashers because of faulty wiring, the company and the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement released
Thursday.

The recalled appliances are blamed for causing 135 fires and four
injuries.

Affected dishwashers were sold at department and appliances stores
between July 1997 and June 2001 and sold at prices between $370 and
$800. The dishwashers were manufactured in the United States.

The machines should immediately be disconnected from electrical
power by shutting off a circuit breaker or disconnecting a fuse, the
CPSC said.

Maytag will provide free in-home repair or a $75 cash back
reimbursement on the purchase of a new Maytag, Jenn-Air, Whirlpool
or KitchenAid dishwasher.

The company said liquid rinse-aid can leak from the appliances'
dispenser into internal wiring and short-circuit and ignite.

Maytag has received 135 reports of dishwasher fires, resulting in
product and/or property damage. Four injuries have been reported,
including three reports of smoke inhalation and one serious hand
laceration as the consumer was operating a fire extinguisher to put
out a dishwasher fire.

The recall involves under-counter or portable plastic tub
dishwashers with black, white, almond, bisque or stainless steel
front panels.

Maytag, once the nation's third largest appliance maker, was bought
by Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool Corp. on March 31, 2006, in
a deal valued at $2.6 billion.

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Consumers should contact Maytag at 1-800-675-0535 to determine if
their dishwasher is included in the recall or visit the company's
Web site at http://www.repair.maytag.com. Maytag customer service is
open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

The CPSC has a Web site with photographs and lists of model and
serial numbers for models included in the recall at
http://www.cpsc.gov.