BSH Recalls Bosch, Siemens Dishwashers
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 1/26/2009
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. — BSH North America has recalled 476,500 dishwashers that were manufactured between 1995 and 2005 due to a potential fire hazard.
The voluntary recall, which includes nine models by Bosch and one by Siemens, was announced on Jan. 15.
According to president/CEO Michael Traub, BSH identified an electrical component in the suspect dishwashers that could overheat and pose a possible danger to consumers. The problem was discovered during an investigation by an external laboratory retained by BSH to look into field reports of damage to the external surface area of the dishwashers’ control panels. There have been 51 reports of incidents, including 30 fires resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.
BSH shared its findings with the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and is working with the agency on a program to voluntarily repair the affected units, Traub said in a letter to dealers.
He urged retailers and distributors to help BSH locate consumers who purchased the 10 models so it can arrange for repairs at its own cost.
The affected models were all shipped prior to July 2005 and sold in the United States and Canada at retail from May 1999 through December 2006 for between $550 and $1,100. They include the Bosch SHE and SHU series and Siemens’ model SL34A, and all carry serial numbers that begin with the letters “FD.”
BSH requested all consumer inquiries be directed to its brand Web sites at www.boschappliances.com and www.siemens-home.com, or to the company’s around-the-clock repair hotline at (800) 856-9226.
