Maytag, Samsung recall washing machines

updated 12:18 p.m. ET March 21, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa - Maytag announced the voluntary recall of 250,000 front-load washing machines and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., of South Korea recalled 20,000 machines, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement Wednesday.

The machines made in South Korea were sold in department stores and appliance retailers nationwide from April 2005 through August 2006 for between $1,000 and $1,200. They can catch fire when water leaks into an electrical connection, igniting a circuit board.

The CPSC said consumers should stop using the machines immediately unless told otherwise.

Maytag, a division of Whirlpool Corp., has received five reports of incidents involving ignition in circuit boards and Samsung received one report. No injuries, fires or property damage outside the washing machines have been reported.

The recall involves Maytag front-load washing machines with model numbers beginning with MAH9700 or MAH8700. The Samsung model number WF306BHW or a model number beginning with WF316.

The model and serial numbers are located on a tag at the bottom of the door opening. Maytag models with a serial number ending in the last two letters identified below are subject to the recall:

2005: GA,GC,GE,GG,GJ,GL,GN,GP,GR,GT,GV,GX

2006:JA,JC,JE,JG,JJ,JL,JN

Samsung models with the six-digit number 100001 through 799999 prior to a letter at the end of the serial number are subject to the recall.

Consumers should immediately contact the company for information on how to receive a free repair.

Consumers can call Maytag toll-free at (800) 868-5109 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or go to Maytag’s Web site at http://www.washerrecall.com 

Samsung customers can call (800) 515-7902 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or go to Samsung’s Web site at http://www.samsung.com/washerrecall

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