Do you have a Jenn-Air, Kenmore Elite, Thermador, Gaggenau, or Bosch Brand dishwasher installed in your kitchen? If you purchased it between January of 2009 and May of 2015, it may be included in a recall announced by the manufacturer in 2015 that was expanded in 2017.
Keep reading for information on this recall and how to determine your dishwasher’s status.
When was this recall issued?
The initial recall was jointly issued by BSH Home Appliances, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada in October 2015. It was expanded two years later, in October of 2017.
Why are the dishwashers being recalled?
There is a potential fire hazard caused by some dishwasher power cords overheating.
Which Dishwashers are affected?
The original recall included 195,000 dishwasher units across four brands manufactured by BSH Home Appliances between the beginning of 2008 and the end of 2013. 149,000 units were sold in the United States between 2009 and 2014 by home improvements stores, department stores, authorized builder distributors, and appliance and specialty retailers. 45,000 were sold in similar places in Canada.
The 2017 recall expansion included 469,000 additional units that were manufactured between early-2013 and mid-2015. 408,000 of these were sold in by home improvements stores (on-site and online this time), department stores, authorized builder distributors, and appliance and specialty retailers in the U.S. In similar stores in Canada, 61,000 units were sold.
The five brands affected by the original recall and its expansion are:
- Bosch brand
- Gaggenau brand
- Jenn-Air brand
- Kenmore Elite brand; and
- Thermador brand
For special model and serial number information, see the original recall and expansion notices posted on the U.S. CPSC and Health Canada websitesU.S. CPSC recall notices specific to the BSH Home Appliances Dishwasher Recall
Health Canada recall notices:
How many reported incidents are there? Were there any injuries?
So far, only fifteen incidents related to this recall have been reported. Fourteen of the incidents were reported within the United States, while only one was reported in Canada. Every incident reported involved fires resulting from the power cord overheating.
While property damage has been noted in each case, there have been no injuries associated with them.
Have there been any similar recalls recently?
There has only been one similar recall on dishwashers recently. A few months before BSH Home Appliances issued their original recall notice in 2015, Viking Range expanded a dishwasher recall they had originally issued in 2012. In the case of the Viking Range dishwashers, the fire hazard came from an overheating electrical component inside the dishwasher. Unlike the current dishwasher recall, only 19,000 units sold in the U.S. were involved.
If you’re curious about the Viking Range Dishwasher 2015 Recall Expansion, you can find the expansion notice on the U.S. CPSC website.
How do I verify the status of my dishwasher?
If you have reason to believe your dishwasher is affected by this recall, you have two options for verifying its status. The first is through a search set up on the brand’s recall website, and the second is through the recall notices from the U.S. CPSC or Health Canada listed above. If you opt to use the search, you will need the model and serial numbers as well as the production code for Bosch, Gaggenau, Jenn-Air, and Thermador brands. For the Kenmore Elite search, or if you intend to use the notices, you will only need model and serial numbers.
Where are the model and serial numbers?
If you have a Gaggenau or Jenn-Air Brand dishwasher
Look for the serial tag on top of the inner door panel of the dishwasher. The model and serial numbers and production code are located on the left side. You will find the model number is clearly labeled at the top, while the serial number is the first four numbers after the letters “FD”. The five numbers after the serial number are the production code.
If you have a Bosch or Thermador Brand dishwasher
The serial tag is in one of two places on your dishwasher:
- Right side of the dishwasher’s inner door panel
- Top of the dishwasher’s inner door panel
The model number, serial number and production code are in the same place on the serial tag as Gaggenau and Jenn-Air dishwashers.
If you have a Kenmore Elite Brand Dishwasher
The serial tag is in the same possible locations as the Bosch and Thermador brand dishwashers. The model and serial numbers can be found above bar codes on the left side of the serial tag. The serial number is the first three numbers above the first bar code, while the model number is the entire set of number on top of the second bar code.
Status Verification Search Links
If you plan to use the search feature on your dishwasher brand’s recall site, here are the links for each brand:
- Bosch Dishwasher Recall
- Gaggenau Dishwasher Recall
- Jenn-Air Dishwasher Recall
- Kenmore Elite Dishwasher Recall
- Thermador Dishwasher Recall
What remedy options are available from BSH Home Appliances?
The manufacturer is offering a free in-home repair visit from an authorized service technician and replacement power cord. You can set up an appointment for the visit by calling the BSH safety recall hotline during its open hours.BSH Home Appliances Safety Recall Hotline and hours of operation:
- Number: 888-956-5813
- Hours of Operation: Daily between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Eastern
Conclusion
If you think your dishwasher is involved in this recall, unplug your unit and stop using it until you know for sure.
If you have questions or concerns, call the above-listed safety recall hotline number. The manufacturer set up the hotline to answer any and all related questions, address concerns, help consumers figure out if their dishwasher is part of the recall, and set up appointments.
While we appreciate your confidence in the work we do, we always recommend reaching out to the manufacturer first when it comes to recalling work. For any other appliance service work in the Dayton area, reach out to us any time.