Haier America Expands Recall of Chest Freezers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers should stop using this product, which is being recalled voluntarily, unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of product: Chest Freezers

Hazard:  A capacitor in the freezer's circuitry can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately unplug their freezer and contact the company to schedule an appointment for a free repair to the freezer.

Consumer Contact:  Haier America; toll-free at (877) 878-7579 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET any day, or online at www.haieramerica.com and click on Product Recalls for more information.

Photos are available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/Haier-America-Expands-Recall-of-Chest-Freezers.

Recall Details

Units:

About 41,000, 67,500 additional freezers were recalled in November 2010

Description: This recall involves the Haier® models HNCM070E with 7.0 cubic foot capacity and ESNCM053E with 5.3 cubic foot capacity, and Black & Decker® model BFE53 with 5.3 cubic foot capacity white chest freezers. "Haier" is printed on the upper-left corner of the freezer, or "Black & Decker" is printed on the front upper-right corner of the freezer. "Haier" or "Black & Decker," the model number, the unit's serial number and other information are printed on a rating label at the top center of the back of the freezer.  The recalled Black & Decker model BFE53 freezer also has a label adjacent to the rating label with the UPC number 896603002660 printed on it. 

Freezers with serial numbers beginning with the following numbers are recalled:

Incidents/Injuries: In addition to the 18 incidents reported in the November 2010 recall, which included four reports of fires with minor property damage, Haier America and CPSC have received 27 additional incident reports. This includes three fires that caused substantial property damage. There have been no reports of injuries. 

Sold at: Haier model HNCM070E was sold by regional and local retailers nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Walmart.com and other online retailers from September 2009 through October 2011 for between $180 to $200. Haier model ESNCM053E was sold primarily on Amazon.com and other online retailers from February 2010 through March 2013 for between $200 to $290.  The Black & Decker model BFE53 was sold exclusively at Walmart nationwide and at Walmart.com from September 2009 through September 2010, for about $150.

Importer:  Haier America Trading LLC, New York, N.Y.

Manufactured in: China

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission