Whirpool washing machines recalled due to fire risk

Following a major recall of Whirlpool tumble dryers last year due to fire risk, half a million washing machines of the same brand have now been recalled in the UK as it was found that they also pose a danger of fire.

Whirlpool announced that up to 519,000 washing machines sold between October 2014 and February 2018 could be a risk to consumers. The issue found is a fault in the door locking system, which could lead to the appliances overheating and catching fire.

Whirlpool noted that, so far, “no serious injuries have been reported”. However, customers should be aware of the potential fault and contact Whirlpool for advice on what to do next.

The affected washing machines were sold under the brands of Hotpoint and Indesit. The manufacturer has urged owners of these machines to contact them as soon as possible to check that theirs isn’t an affected model.

Previously, consumers had been advised to switch off their machines and wait for further advice. This has now, however, been changed and all the machines sold of this model have been recalled.

If customers continue to use these products, it’s strongly advised that they only use cold water cycles of under 20C, as this can reduce the fire risk significantly.

Whirlpool said in a statement, “When the heating element in the washing machine is activated, in very rare cases a component in the door lock system can overheat, which, depending on product features, can pose a risk of fire.”

Jeff Noel, the company’s vice president, said, “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and concern this may cause to our customers, particularly over the Christmas period, but we hope people will understand that we are taking action because people’s safety is our top priority. Preparing for a recall of this scale is a complex operation and we are working tirelessly to ensure we are ready to start offering replacements or repairs to our customers from early January.”