FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2000
Release # 01-054
GE Recall Hotline: (800) 599-2929 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC and GE Announce Free Repair Supplement of Rebate Program for Recalled Dishwashers: Recalled Units Still Being Used, Creating Risk of Fire
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), General Electric Appliances Co., of Louisville, Ky.,
is voluntarily offering a free repair option in the form of a rewiring
for its recalled GE and Hotpoint dishwashers. With the free rewire
option, a GE-authorized technician will rewire the slide switch at no
cost to consumers. This supplements the original rebate program
announced October 19, 1999. The dishwashers have a slide switch that can
melt and ignite, presenting a fire hazard. CPSC is aware of
approximately 90 incidents associated with these dishwashers. GE
manufactured 3.1 million of these dishwashers between 1983 and 1989.
In the recall announced last year, GE provided consumers with a
rebate toward the purchase of a new dishwasher. CPSC and GE are
announcing the supplemental rewiring option to increase the
effectiveness of the original program, which has to date been
implemented in over 628,000 units. CPSC and GE are cooperating in an
effort to reach people who may not have previously come forward.
Both the CPSC and GE strongly urge consumers who have not replaced
their recalled units under the original rebate program to contact GE
right away to schedule a free rewiring or participate in the original
rebate program. Until the dishwasher has been rewired, consumers should
keep the dishwasher door unlatched at all times to prevent the flow of
electrical current that creates a risk of fire.
The slide switch allows consumers to choose between heated drying
and "energy saver" functions. Over time, the slide switch can melt and
ignite, presenting a fire hazard. In the free rewiring program announced
today, GE-authorized technicians will rewire the slide switch,
eliminating it from the electrical circuit and thereby eliminating the
fire risk.
There have been approximately 90 incidents of fire, smoking and
melted switches, 14 of which included fires that spread beyond the
dishwasher. Approximately 10 incidents have occurred since the recall
announcement. No injuries have been reported.
The GE and Hotpoint dishwashers involved are models beginning with
GSD500D, GSD500G, GSD540, HDA467, HDA477, or HDA487 with a serial number
that has a second letter of A, M, R, S, T, V or Z (for example,
BM12345). The model and serial numbers are located on a rectangular
label that is on either the right or left front edge of the inner tub.
The GE or Hotpoint brand name is on the front of the dishwasher.
Consumers that have one of these recalled dishwashers should
immediately discontinue use, unlatch the door, and contact GE at 1-800-
599-2929 anytime or at www.geappliancerecall.com.