Maytag Recalls More Refrigerators for Overheating, Fire Hazards

Another 46,000 Maytag Corp. refrigerators are being recalled today because the appliances may overheat and catch fire. Today’s expanded recall adds to the 1.6 million Maytag refrigerators that were recalled earlier this year due to an internal electrical failure that posed a fire and overheating risk.

Since that March 2009 recall, Maytag, of Newton, Iowa, has received 23 more reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including four reports of smoke and extensive kitchen damage to homes, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The recalled refrigerators were sold under the brand names Maytag, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag, and Crosley and sold at department and appliance stores as well as by homebuilders nationwide between September 2000 and May 2004 for between about $350 and $1,600.

An electrical failure in the refrigerator’s relay, which is the component responsible for turning on the compressor, may overheat and catch fire, officials said.

Specific Model and Serial Numbers Recalled

Only certain models of side-by-side and top-freezer refrigerators are covered by the recall. Maytag refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom of the unit are not being recalled. The recalled refrigerators came in black, bisque, white, and stainless steel.

Only refrigerators with specific model and serial numbers are being recalled. For a complete listing of the recalled units, read the CPSC’s recall notice.

Earlier Recall Expanded

In March, more than a million Maytag refrigerators were recalled because an electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, could cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

Consumers who have a Maytag refrigerator in their homes should immediately contact the manufacturer to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall. If it is, a free in-home repair will be scheduled to correct the defect. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased, the CPSC said.

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