Samsung issues recall for washing machines

Fresh from a recall of its Galaxy Note 7 cell phone, Samsung is now recalling some washing machines because the appliance’s top can come off.

A recall of roughly 2.8 million washers covering 34 different models was announced Friday in the United States. A Canadian recall notice for many of the same models, along with some Kenmore brand models built by Samsung, was issued on Oct. 4. Approximately 245,000 of the affected models have been sold in Canada.

Health Canada has received two reports of consumer incidents but no reports of injuries. Samsung received 67 reports of washing machines experiencing excessive vibration, or the top detaching from the washing machine causing 11 reports of minor property damage but no reports of injuries.

The various affected models were manufactured in Korea and China and sold between March 2011 and Oct. 2016 this year.

Samsung Electronics Canada is asking consumers to register with them to receive details of the remedy. The remedy includes a customer update kit, a free in-home repair and a one-year extension of the manufacturer’s warranty. Alternatively, owners can choose to receive a prorated rebate towards the purchase of a replacement Samsung washer.

Until an in-home repair is completed or the washer replaced, Samsung Electronics Canada is recommending that consumers with affected models only use the lower speed delicate cycle when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant materials.

Consumers should register with Samsung Electronics Canada through the following websites:

Samsung models http://pages.samsung.com/ca/toploadwasherremedy/English/index.jsp
Kenmore models manufactured by Samsung https://pages.samsung.com/ca/toploadwasherremedy/English/kenmore.jsp?

Click here for complete listings of model numbers. http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/60872r-eng.php

Last month, Samsung issued a recall for more 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to an unexplained overheating problems, just two months after the product’s launch in August. Samsung subsequently discontinued the device.