GE Recalls Ranges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2009
Release #09-189

Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 352-9764
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
GE Media Contact: (888) 240-2749

GE Recalls Ranges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: GE Profile(tm) Freestanding Dual Fuel Ranges

Units: About 28,000

Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky.

Hazard: The wiring in the rear of the range can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: GE is aware of 47 reports of overheated wiring, including 33 reports of wiring that caught fire. Of these, one fire caused structural damage to the home and there have been 14 reports of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves GE Profile 30" Freestanding Duel Fuel ranges. The ranges were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The following model and serial numbers can be found on the left inside corner of the bottom drawer.

Brand / Model Number Begins With / Serial Number Begins With
GE Profile / J2B900 / LD, MD, RD, SD, TD, VD, ZD, AF, DF, FF, GF, HF, LF, MF
GE Profile / J2B915 / MF, RF, SF, TF, VF, ZF, AG, DG, FG, GG, HG, LG, MG, RG, SG, TG, VG, ZG

Sold at: Department and appliance stores nationwide from June 2002 through December 2005 for between $1,300 and $2,000.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the oven and contact GE for a free repair. Consumers can continue to use the cooktop burners.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GE toll-free at (888) 352-9764 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday ET, or visit the firm's Web site at www.geappliances.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09189.html

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

This message is from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,
an independent federal regulatory agency, located at 4330 East West
Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 Toll-free hotline: (800) 638-2772

Cautionary Tale About Bosch

Appliances: that is where we designers get tripped up with mistakes that cost us big bucks and manufacturers get off Scott free with disclaimers.

Ask any kitchen designer and they will tell you a litany of horror stories about the dishwasher or refrigerator panels that were ordered with the cabinets and didn't fit because the manufacturer exercised their posted right to change their products without notice. Or the oven that didn't fit in the oven cutout for the same reason. We've all got 'em.

I recently spent hours online and on the phone trying to find the overall installed height of a Bosch stacked washer and dryer my client had selected. We were building it in and I needed dimensions for the cabinet order.

One would think that the maker of the appliances would know what they were making. Wouldn't one?

When I finally gave up and called the company, the customer service people didn't have the information either. Nor could they tell me the height of the component that fits between the washer and dryer with a pullout folding surface.

I asked to speak with a supervisor and got the same answer: No answer. Not acceptable when we are planning an expensive cabinet order.

I gave up and called my client and advised them to buy a Miele instead. If that's what Bosch calls customer service, my clients won't have to deal with it. That's for sure! Miele gives designers and buyers accurate documentation and exceptional customer service, along with longevity that can't be beat.

I have a LONG memory when it comes to things like this. It is these very issues that drive designers to recommend and specify products with good customer service, track record and documentation and caution against those who do not offer same.

In these days of attention to money saving it is often the lower priced appliances that are lacking in customer service.

In this case that's penny wise and pound foolish.

Peggy