Just Before Thanksgiving, Nearly 250,000 Home Ovens Recalled
With Thanksgiving week almost here and more U.S. consumers cooking at home because of tough economic times, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced bad news: a voluntary recall of 244,000 GE, GE Profile, Monogram, and Kenmore wall ovens. Consumers should stop using them immediately unless otherwise instructed, the agency said.
The manufacturer is GE Consumer & Industrial of Louisville, Ky. "The extreme heat used in the self-clean cycle can escape, if the wall oven door is removed and incorrectly re-attached by the installer or the consumer. This can pose a fire and burn hazard to consumers," according to the Nov. 18 recall notice posted by CPSC.
The agency said GE is aware of "28 incidents of minor property damage in which adjacent kitchen cabinets have been damaged. No injuries have been reported." The wall ovens were sold in white, black, bisque, and stainless steel. They were sold at home builder stores and appliance stores nationwide from October 2002 through December 2004 for $900 to $3,600.
"Consumers should immediately inspect the oven to make sure they do not have an incorrectly re-attached wall oven door, which will not open into the flat position. If the wall oven door is incorrectly re-attached, consumers should not use the self-clean cycle and call GE for a free repair. Consumers can continue to use normal baking or broiling function in the oven until the oven is repaired," said CPSC. Contact GE toll-free at 888-569-1588 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday EST, or visit www.GEAppliances.com.