On June 3, 2010, Maytag and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled about 1.7 million dishwashers due to a problem in the heating element that could damage the unit or cause a fire. So far, there are twelve known fires that caused damage but no injuries have been reported.
2010 Maytag Dishwasher Recall
The 2010 Maytag dishwasher recall affects the following brands sold between February 2006 and April 2010 manufactured with white, black, bisque, silver and stainless steel front panels:
- Amana
- Maytag
- Jenn-Air
- Admiral
- Magic Chef
- Performa by Maytag
- Crosley (with plastic tubs)
These Maytag dishwashers were usually sold in department stores with prices ranging from $250 to $900. The brand of the dishwasher can be identified from the front. To identify whether a product is affected, go to the Maytag repair website and check the serial number on the dishwasher to see if it is on the recall list. The model and serial number are located on the left side of the appliance on the plastic tub where it meets the door.
If a dishwasher is on the recall list, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that consumers stop using the appliance immediately and disconnect the electric supply to the dishwasher by shutting off the fuse in the circuit breaker.
Free Maytag Dishwasher Repair or Maytag Dishwasher Rebate
Consumers affected need to schedule a free in-home repair or receive a $150 or $250 rebate good towards the purchase of a new Maytag dishwasher. The amount of the Maytag dishwasher rebate depends on the model of the recalled appliance. Whirlpool, which owns the Maytag brand, says it set aside $75 million to cover the costs of the recall including the free dishwasher repair as well as the cost of the dishwasher rebates.
Lonely Maytag Repairman
In the past, Maytag was well known for its high quality and the lonely Maytag repairman, who supposedly had a lonely job because his company's appliances never broke. It's become a popular metaphor for a professional whose services are rarely needed. By 2004, the Maytag repairman started to represent misplaced trust in advertising campaigns as Maytag's quality started to slide.
According to Industry Week, Maytag lost $9 million due to numerous costly class action lawsuits and quality complaints. One comment in Continental Quality Engineering noted that, "Unfortunately things change, and, after some major quality hiccups, now it's the Maytag salesman who is bemoaning his loneliness." This is the second major Maytag recall in the last two years. In March 2009, Maytag recalled more than 1.6 million refrigerators due to possible fire hazards.
Reference:
Continental Quality Engineering. "The High Cost of Low Quality"; Anderson IA: The Continental Quality Newsletter
