Now Samsung washers are the target of a government safety warning
Image: David Becker/Getty Images
First it was the smartphones, now it’s the washing machines.
In the same month that Samsung admitted it knows of at least 35 instances of Note7 batteries exploding or catching fire amid a nationwide recall in the U.S., the company is also having to deal with reports that some of its top-loading washers are also exploding.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning Wednesday, CNN reports, saying that there were “safety issues” with certain models made between March 2011 and April 2016. It did not specify models.
A woman’s washer “exploded with such ferocity that it penetrated the interior wall of her garage.”
Customers from several states, including Texas, Georgia and Indiana, have all said their washing machines exploded during use. ABC News believes 21 people have reported to the CPSC that their machines have malfunctioned.
In Texas, a woman’s washer “exploded with such ferocity that it penetrated the interior wall of her garage,” according to court documents reportedly filed earlier this year.
“The dent left at the washing machine’s point of impact was so deep that it pushed through into [her] living room, which shares a wall with her garage.”
Another woman in Georgia said it “sounded like a bomb went off in [her] ear when her machine exploded in April. There were wires, nuts, the cover actually was laying on the floor, Melissa Thaxton of Dallas said.
CPSC issues warning about certain top-loading Samsung washing machines after reports that some had exploded. https://t.co/em0kqGEWId pic.twitter.com/lc023k1u5Z
ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2016
Samsung issued a statement Wednesday, saying it was in “active discussions with the CPSC to address potential safety issues related to certain top-load washing machines.”
“In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items,” the company added. “Samsung is recommending that consumers with affected models use the lower speed delicate cycle” when washing those items.
“It is important to note that Samsung customers have completed hundreds of millions of loads without incident since 2011.”
Read more: http://mashable.com/2016/09/28/washing-machines-samsung/