GE recalls 1.3 million Eterna dishwashers due to fire hazard

Consumer Reports News: August 09, 2012 01:38 PM

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GE Appliances has recalled about 1.3 million of its GE, GE Adora, GE Eterna, GE Profile, and Hotpoint dishwashers because an electrical failure in the heating element can pose a fire hazard.

GE has received 15 reports of heating element failures, including seven reports of fires, three of which caused extensive property damage. No injuries have been reported, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. None of these recalled dishwashers are in our current Ratings.

Sold for $350 to $850 at appliance dealers, builder distributors, and other stores nationwide from March 2006 through August 2009, the recalled dishwashers came in black, white, bisque, stainless steel, and CleanSteel.

Model and serial numbers of the recalled dishwashers start with one of the following sequences:

Brand:	Model number begins with:	Serial number begins with:
GE GE Adora GE Eterna GE Profile	GLC4, GLD4, GLD5, GLD6, GSD61, GSD62, GLDL, GSD63, GSD66, GSD67, GSD69, EDW4, EDW5, EDW6, PDW7, PDWF7, GHD4, GHD5, GHD6, GHDA4, GHDA6	AM, AR, DM, DR, FL, FM, FR, GL, GM, GR, HL, HM, LL, LM, ML, MM, RM, SM, TM, VL, VM, ZL, ZM
Hotpoint	HLD4

You'll find the model and serial numbers on a metallic plate on the left tub wall, visible when the door is opened.

If you own a dishwasher affected by the current recall, immediately disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker. To arrange for a free repair, contact GE by calling 866-918-8760 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET) or visiting the company's recall page. Do not return your dishwasher to the retailer where you bought it. GE is also offering a rebate toward the purchase of a new dishwasher.

This recall is unrelated to several other major GE dishwasher recalls, which go back 13 years: 1999, 2005, 2007, and 2010.

In March, our investigative report found that out of more than 15 million appliance units that have been recalled in the past five years, almost half of the recalled units were dishwashers. For more see Appliance fires: Is your home safe?

If you are in the market for a new dishwasher consult our buying guide and Ratings.

Source:
GE Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard [CPSC]

—Maggie Shader