Samsung issues recall on over 660,000 washing machines in the US

Samsung Electronics issued a recall that covers more than 660,000 washing machines in the United States. The South Korean company warned its customers about fire risk after receiving more than four dozen reports related to melting, smoking, overheating, and fire.

According to CNN Business, Samsung Electronics immediately released a warning to owners of its washing machines, saying that the device could overheat or short-circuit; thus, they are considered a fire hazard until a repair is done.

The company revealed it has received around 51 reports related to the washing machines, and ten of these reports caused damage to property. Three people were also injured due to smoke inhalation.

The company said that a total of 663,500 units of its top-loading washing machines are affected by the recall which was announced late last week. Samsung Electronics listed its machine models with super speed, including WA49B, WA50B, WA51A, WA52A, WA54A, and WA55A as the affected units.

Customers were also informed that the models sold are in ivory, white, black, and champagne colors. On the website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the complete list of 14 washing machine models and their serial numbers were posted for easier identification of the affected washing appliance.

Moreover, it was mentioned that the machines were sold for $900 and $1,500 at popular big box retailers, including Costco, The Home Depot, Best Buy, and Lowe’s. These were also sold on Samsung US’ official website from June 2021 and December this year.

“Consumers should immediately check whether their washer’s software has been updated to prevent the hazard; and, if not, consumers should immediately stop using the washer until the software is updated,” the CPSC stated in the recall announcement. “Instructions on how to check whether a washer’s software has been updated can be found on Samsung US website’s support page.”

The US consumer regulator added that “All Wi-Fi equipped washers that are plugged into a power source and actively connected to the internet will automatically download the free software repair over-the-air when they are connected to the internet.”

On the other hand, owners of the affected washing machines that do not have WI-FI capability can simply contact Samsung for instructions on how to update their unit’s software. They must also stop using the machine immediately and operate only after the repair is completed.

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