When the recall was first announced in March, Maytag had received 41 reports of the relays catching fire, including 16 that resulted in property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage. Since then the company has received 23 additional incident reports including four with property damage. The defect is in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, which can overheat.
The recall involves both side-by-side and top-freezer refrigerators but not those with bottom freezers. (Check the first and second recall notices for serial and model numbers.) They were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from September 2000 through May 2004 for between $350 and $1,600.
Owners of the units should contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and if so, to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased. For more information, contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the Maytag Web site.
I did purchase one of those refridgeraters and learned of the recall right after the fire department came out to inspect tale tell electrical fumes filling my home. I only knew of the recall over a wild hunch checking out the web. Never got any manufacturer warning. So in filling out the website complaint, soon afterwards repairs were made and compensation for food loss.
I purchased the Maytag top freezer refrigerator back in 2002! Received a letter from Maytag on 9/12/09 advising of possible fire hazard and to call and make an appointment for in-home repair. I telephoned them immediately and appointment was made for 9/16/09. On 9/15/09 I received a telephone message on my recorder that repairman was in area and left his cell number, which I could not understand because of his poor English. He called back again and when I answered I could just about understand him. I finally got him to come to my home (a day earlier than scheduled, with no advance warning).
... I telephoned Maytag and asked them if this was authorized service man and they said yes. ...
I think Maytag has performed very badly in this situation regarding timely notifying us (supposedly 1,600,000 customers) of this fire threat and then affiliating with these store front "authorized" service stations!
I will not buy another Maytag product!!!
We purchased an Admiral side by side refrigerator some 18 years ago and it was not until our grandchild opened the refrigerator and was burned that we realized something was wrong. The metal strip running around the doors is extremely hot, and the rubber (or plastic) gasket that closes against it is turning brown (from the heat). We never noticed this problem before and wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the refrigerator. We are not having problems with the refrigator in any other way. What would you advise?
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