GE Appliances issues recall of its Profile top-loading washers due to fire risk

By Rick Stella September 15, 2016

ge announces recalls of top loading washers gehq1 — UpstateNYer/Wikipedia

Due to a faulty electrical component in three models of its high-efficiency top-loading washers, appliance company GE has announced an urgent recall. Citing potential fire hazard risks, the company is currently advising owners of GE Profile washers WPGT9350, WPGT9360, and WPGT9150 to immediately unplug and stop using them. To help with the issue, GE Appliances says it’s offering free repairs of the units, which can be requested by calling it directly or setting up an appointment via the “Recall Information” section on its website.

Though the recall only covers three of GE’s Profile models, the brand estimates there to be roughly 222,000 units currently installed — and an additional 450 sold in Canada. Available in gold, gray, and white, each model measures around 4 cubic feet and features “GE Profile” emblazoned on the front. Sold between 2003 and 2011, the top-loading washers were available from stores like Best Buy, Sears, and Home Depot for around $900 to $1,400.

Thus far, GE says it’s received 71 different reports of a washer’s internal components burning or catching fire, with three of those fires reportedly resulting in $129,000 in property damage. No injuries have yet been reported as a result of any fires.

The Boston, Massachusetts-basedcompany has yet to release any official statement on the matter, likely focusing on repairing as many of the 222,000 models as quickly as it can. GE is no stranger to recall — it recalled air conditioning and heating units in 2015, as well as similar front-loading washers because of injury risks in 2012.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…

Smart Home

Best air fryer deals: As cheap as $25

The Costway 16-in-1 15-quart air fryer oven on a table with plates of food spread out around it.

Air fryers are probably some of the best smart kitchen appliances because they not only make frying a lot easier but can also keep you much healthier in the long run compared to a deep fryer. Some of the best air fryers on the market have a ton of great features, giving you the variety of doing things like rotisserie or even having dual baskets to fry two things at a time. So, if you're looking to grab yourself an air fryer, you may want to check out these air fryer deals; they're some of our favorites that we've collected from around the internet.
Bella Pro Series 4-quart digital air fryer — $40, was $70

The Bella Pro Series 4-quart digital air fryer is equipped with a 1,500-watt heating system with an adjustable cooking temperature of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which you can adjust through its digital touchscreen that also offers several preset cook modes. The air fryer offers enough capacity to cook meals for about four to six people, so it’s perfect for small families and intimate gatherings. The Bella Pro Series 4-quart digital air fryer also features a 60-minute automatic shut-off timer and a dishwasher-safe basket.

Smart Home

Best Instant Pot deals: Pressure cookers, air fryers and grills on sale

A stew cooks in the Instant Pot Precision electric Dutch Oven.

Instant Pot is such a widespread brand that if you've ever owned an air fryer, pressure cooker, or toaster oven, you've probably had an Instant Pot at some point. Given that it's a brand that's known for making some of the best air fryers and the best pressure cookers, it makes sense to stick to the brand when looking to buy new small kitchen appliances. That's why we've gone out to find our favorite Instant Pot appliances, whether it's a pressure cooker or a Dutch oven, and collected them all below to help save you some extra legwork.
Instant Pot RIO 7-in-1 Electric Multi-Cooker -- $88, was $100

Not all Instant Pot devices need to cost a lot of money, and this budget-friendly Instant Pot Rio will give you a lot of functionality for less than $100. While it primarily functions as a pressure cooker, you can also use it for cooking rice, making yogurt, warming food, and even sauté. The controls are also pretty simple, so you don't have to worry about pressing through complex menus, and the fact that the lid and internal pan are dishwasher safe means it's really easy to wash as well, which is a huge plus.

Smart Home

Best elliptical machine deals: From $100 to $1,100

A man working out with the ProForm Carbon EL elliptical machine in a nice apartment.

Going on a fitness journey can be quite difficult sometimes, especially if you're the sort of person who doesn't want to go to a public gym. Luckily, there are a lot of great devices that can offer good cardio, such as elliptical machines. While they can get quite expensive, we're happy to see that even some of the bbest smart ellipticals have solid deals on them, and if you'd rather go for something more budget-friendly, there are options for that, too. To that end, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite elliptical machine deals for you, although you could always check out these excellent treadmill deals if you want a different type of cardio machine.
Sunny SF-E902 Air Walk elliptical machine — $78, was $130

Workout warriors on a budget or with little space to spare should consider the SF-E902 Air Walk. It’s an incredibly simple elliptical machine, yet it still has plenty to offer. It folds up easily to a size half its length, which makes it great for apartment dwellers. It offers a total body workout and the non-slip pedals help simulate a slow walk or a full run. It even has an LCD monitor that displays time, count, calories, and scan.