Samsung Washing Machine Update: Texas Family’s Repaired Machine Explodes
You may recall that a few months ago, Samsung issued a voluntary recall of some of their top-loading washers because the washer lids can become detached from the machine while they are in operation. During the spin cycle, those lids can explode off the machines with enough force to cause serious injury or damage. In fact, the company issued the recall after receiving more than 700 reports of incidents in which the top came off and nine such incidents resulted in serious injury, including at least one broken jaw. Now, there’s a washing machine recall update, and the incident happened in Texas.
The recall covered 34 models of top-loading washers that were sold at many different stores between March 2011 and November 2016, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Sears, and Lowe’s. The complete list can be found here. The company asked consumers to stop using them immediately and call Samsung to have a repair scheduled.
However, a woman in Rosenberg, Texas apparently did as Samsung asked. She stopped using the machine and called Samsung. Unfortunately, the woman, whose name has not been released, says her machine exploded on Dec. 28, 2016, just 25 days after Samsung sent a DISH Network employee to her home on Dec. 3, 2016 to make the repair. The damage the woman describes makes it clear that anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the washer would have been taking a risk. She described holes in her sheetrock, as well as dents in the metal on the washer, as well as the dryer and the refrigerator adjacent to it.
The woman reported the post-repair explosion to Samsung and also the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC released a statement reminding those with these washers to have them repaired as soon as possible and saying that they were investigating this latest incident. Samsung has said they have completed hundreds of thousands of repairs thus far and that they stand behind them, as they have been tested and validated. They expressed regret for the experience of the Texas family whose repair didn’t work and said they are “conducting an analysis to understand what caused the incident to occur.” They also took the opportunity to urge any consumer with one of the recalled washing machines to contact them for a repair.
Samsung is offering consumers options when it comes to the recalled washers. In addition to in-home repairs, depending on the age of the machine, they may be able to get a rebate or a refund as well. In the meantime, consumers with these washing machines should use lower-speed spin cycles when washing bulky items and, if they haven’t yet, they could contact Samsung for a repair or a refund or rebate. It would also be wise to keep people, especially small children and pets, away from the washer while it’s in use.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or suffered serious property damage while using this or any other defective consumer product, please contact the Consumer Product Defect Injury Lawyer atthe Hill Law Firm as soon as possible, so that we can investigate the situation and make sure negligent companies are held responsible.