It hasn’t been a good year for Samsung. The Korean electronics giant is working along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall 34 models of top-loading washing machines made between March 11 and November 2016. The decision came after the company received several reports of washers exploding during normal use.
The firm was forced to recall the products after owners reported that the drums in their machines had lost balance and triggered excessive vibrations causing a separation between the top and the washer. The CPSC said it had collected 733 reports of consumers whose machines experienced those flaws. Nine people have suffered from injuries like a broken jaw, an injured shoulder and other injuries related to falls or impacts as the machines experienced complete detachment, according to a report by Engadget.
Samsung recommended in September that owners use slower settings to reduce risk of injury as the company believed the flaws were caused by the use of a high-speed spin cycle for “bedding, water-resistant or bulky items”. However, some consumers claimed that their machines exploded during normal use.
There is a new website focused on the recall where consumers can view the list of the models affected and check if their product is part of them. The company will send a Home Label Kit via mail to all known washer owners. The kit will come with a new control panel guide, a couple of warning labels and clear instructions to use the machine, as well as a user manual supplement, the statement posted on the website reads.
The firm added it wanted to ensure consumers are aware of the options available to them. Owners of the models affected can either opt for a free in-home repair or a rebate that will apply to the purchase of a new Samsung washing machine. Those who choose the first option will be given an extra one-year warranty after Samsung repairs the washing machine’s top compartment. Only those consumers who bought a recalled unit in the last 30 days of Samsung’s recall announcement will receive a full refund from their place of purchase.
On the other hand, consumers who prefer the rebate and buy a new Samsung unit will be given an extra $150 similarly to Galaxy Note 7 owners who receive money if they purchase another phone made by the South Korean company.
A tough year for Samsung
The new recall followed the failed launch of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone which led the company to halt production of its brand-new model. The tech giant was forced to recall 2.5 million phones after numerous complaints that the device caught fire. People continued to report exploding smartphones after the firm claimed to have fixed the flaw and the Note 7 had to be scrapped altogether. Samsung reported in September a sharp fall in operating profit.
Source: Engadget