Maytag recalls 1.6 million refrigerators

Brands include Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley

After getting multiple reports of property damage, Maytag has recalled 1.6 million refrigerators under six popular brand names because of an electrical failure that poses a fire hazard. The defect is in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, which can overheat. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 41 reports of the relays catching fire, including 16 that resulted in property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

The recall—by far the largest refrigerator safety recall—involves certain side-by-side and top-freezer models made by Maytag under its own brand as well as  Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag, and Crosley. Bottom-freezer units are not affected by the recall. The units were made in white, black, bisque, and stainless steel and sold at appliance and homebuilder stores nationwide from January 2001 to January 2004 for between $350 and $1,600.

Maytag and the CPSC are urging consumers to contact Maytag as soon as possible to schedule a free in-home repair. The CPSC is not asking owners to unplug the units since repairs are expected to be made promptly. Maytag can be reached by calling 866-533-9817 or by visiting the company's Web site repair.maytag.com. The CPSC has determined that Maytag's planned repair works and the company plans to publicize the recall to reach as many affected consumers as possible.

This is not the first time Maytag has made a sizeable recall of one if its appliances. In 2007, the company recalled 2.3 million Maytag and Jenn-Air dishwashers sold between July 1997 and June 2001 because they pose a fire hazard. That recall came after the company received 135 reports of dishwasher fires, resulting in product and/or property damage. Four injuries were reported.

At Consumer Reports, in addition to rating and recommending refrigerators and other appliances, we study brand repair rates. And in our most recent frequency-of-repair analysis (for subscribers) Maytag has been the least reliable brand of top-freezer brands purchased from 2003 to 2007.

To determine if you have one of the recalled refrigerators, read the recall notice, which gives a guide to the serial numbers and model numbers of the recalled units. The numbers are printed on a label located on the top middle or left upper side of the refrigerator liner (see illustration at right).

Comments

[Candace]

People who have the refrigerators that have been recalled should also be aware that this relay replacement causes your refrigerator to stop cooling properly. When you call Maytag they send out a technician, charge you the service fee ($75) and then that part the adaptive defrost control board ($100). The technician has told me that all his service calls have been the same issue since the recall. Be aware!

[Kerry]

I have a Whirlpool Gold Side-by-side GD5SHAXNS00 and have had the same problem listed on many blogs/websites with the lights going out and the terrible noise. Is there a recall or pending recall? Or do I have to buy the "board"? We smelled something electrical burning in the house, but had no idea it was the refrigerator.

[Clark Callender]

We have the Whirlpool Gold side by side refrigerator, manufactured in Jan. 2002. Is there anything to the comment above that this has the same problem, as experienced by Maytag? How would one get this information?

[Esteban Fro]

Your post indicates that your fire damages are being paid by your homeowners insurance co., and that Maytag is willing to reimburse you for the deductible. Thus, you will have no monetary damages and in fact will end up with a newer kitchen than before the fire. Your insurance co. will most likely subrogate against Maytag and get some or all of its money back. It seems that you want to have your cake and eat it too. That is, you want a new kitchen AND the $20,000. That is not how things are done. To do otherwise, would result in an unjust enrichment and cost all of the other policyholders money. One other thing, your insurance co. should be paying you for the increased cost of going out to eat during the time the kitchen is being repaired, plus taking care of any smoke damage to other rooms and maybe dry cleaning any smoke damaged clothing and furniture, etc.

[John]

Just had the recall completed. Received the notice of the recall in the mail on Friday. Went to the website on Friday to setup a repair for Monday, today. They showed up at 8:00 AM today, Monday, took 15 minutes and all is well.

JB

[Linda Taylor]

Please send information about the fires happening with Whirlpool. Are they on the recall list as well?

Please advise.

Linda Taylor

[batesvilleindiana]

Glad to see them (Whirlpool) finally doing something!! The recall may hot have the name "Whirlpool" attached to it but they own all those companies and produce the refrigerators. Our Whirlpool Gold side by side refrigerator purchased in 2002 caught fire this past New Year's Eve. Had we not been home our house would have burnt to the ground. Even worse, had it been during the night and we had been in bed.....I perish the thought. Expenses due to the fire have been incurred in excess of $20,000.00. Our fire was due to the same issues the recalled refrigerators are having. Whirlpool is not being cooperative and only wants to cover the cost of the defective refrigerator (if I can provide a receipt)and MAYBE our deductible. Whatever happened to doing the right thing?????