Thread: Advice to KitchenAid dishwasher owners

Yes, Whirlpool makes these models as well as their own and for Kenmore. There is a web site called www.kitchenaidfire.com that details the models that are a potential fire hazard. You can also see the Dishwasher category and select Reports at saferproducts.gov and see that many of the most recent reports are about whirlpool made dishwasher fires. Between the 2 web sites there are at least 200 and maybe up to 400 reports of these specific models of Whirlpool made dishwahsers catching, or almost catching, on fire, all with similar patterns (the control board). I bought mine in March of 06 and many of the reports are from 5 years ago, so I think the control boards fail the most after 5 years. The reports are coming in fast; less that 2 weeks after I submitted my report at kitchenaidfire.com there were 5 submitted after mine.



I have a Kenmore model 665.16293400 (the 665 prefix means the dishwasher was made by Whirlpool). Over the course of 2 nights we noticed a strong smell of burning plastic. At first I thought it was the heating element, but found no plastic touching it. Then I did an internet search and found kitchenaidfire.com and other sites with reports. I took the dishwasher door apart and found the wires going to the control board overheated and were melting into the plastic inside the door. A couple of closely watched washes later, the board has failed. Replacing the control board with another that may end up doing the same thing seems like a waste of time.

I called Sears and they said Whirlpool needed to do a recall first. I called Whirlpool and the rep denied they even made Kenmore dishwashers, just some parts (fyi, the part that's malfunctioning has "Whirlpool" stamped on it). I also sent an e-mail to Whirlpool's consumer safety department and they replied that Sears has to do the recall, in other words, I'm getting the run around.

Whirlpool needs to do the right thing and recall these models before someone gets killed.

I agree with you, but what Whirlpool says is true, if you have a Kenmore with the model# beginning with 665 then its a Whirlpool built Kenmore, but all responsibly falls into Sears lap on this.

Everyone should go to the Sears store where they bought it from and talk to the store manager about this, that will get instant results.

Jake

"Everyone should go to the Sears store where they bought it from and talk to the store manager about this, that will get instant results."

Jake[/QUOTE]

What do you mean by "instant results"? If I go to Sears and say that I have a 5 year old dishwasher I bought from them, which is out of warranty, but people have been reporting it catches on fire, but it hasn't been recalled, what do you think will happen?

They have to report all fire issues to the consumer product safety commission and investigate this, meaning they will send a tech to your house at no charge to verify this issue and get the model and serial numbers off the dishwasher and file a report on this to the consumer product safety commission.

When the consumer product safety commission sees all the reports coming in they contact Sears to issue a recall.

So the more people that report this directly to the Sears store manager the faster the recall.

Jake

Also anyone with this issue can report this to the consumer product safety commission directly here:
CPSC Home Page | cpsc.gov

Jake

I took your advice. The store manager simply referred me to Sears Customer Solutions at 800-638-2772. After talking with them, the bottom line is still that there has to be many reports to the Consumer Products Safety Commission before "Sears, Whirlpool and the SPSC decides" it needs to be recalled. I did not get the impression, nor did they say, Sears is going pass on my report to the CPSC, so people need to contact both Sears and the CPSC. I also recommend adding your name to kitchenaidfire.com. I added my name to the list less that 2 weeks ago and already there are 10 others after me. Spread the word before someone gets killed.

Yes, then report it to the CPSC directly, and others should as well.

Jake