Whirlpool recalls 1.7 million dishwashers in US on fire hazard

Whirlpool Corporation, a global maker of home appliances, said it is recalling 1.7 million dishwashers sold in the US because of potential fire hazard.

Whirlpool's subsidiary Maytag Corporation, which manufactures the recalled dishwashers, said today that it is voluntarily recalling the dishwashers sold between February 2006 through April 2010 in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Newton, Iowa-based Maytag said an electrical failure in the dishwasher's heating element could pose a serious fire hazard.

It received 12 complaints of dishwasher heating element failures that resulted in fires and dishwasher damage, including one report of extensive kitchen damage from a fire, but no injuries have been reported.
 
The affected units were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from February 2006 through April 2010 for between $250 and $900.

Separately, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement that consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Michigan-based Whirlpool with 2009 sales of $17 billion, had acquired Maytag in 2006 to become the world's largest home appliance maker.