The news comes via a warning issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC.) In a statement the consumer watchdog writes: “CPSC is advising consumers to only use the delicate cycle when washing bedding, water-resistant and bulky items,” reads a statement at the commission’s website. “The lower spin speed in the delicate cycle lessens the risk of impact injuries or property damage due to the washing machine becoming dislodged.”
The warning comes after multiple plaintiffs came forward and began proceeding to sue Samsung in a New Jersey federal court. According to the plaintiffs’ attorney, Jason Lichtman, a defective support rod is causing washer tubs to separate. The effect of this is to potentially launching wires, nuts and other parts. In turn, this can result in a centrifugal explosion that can destroy the machine and cause a fire risk to anything nearby.
In a statement, Samsung write “”In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items.”
The risk is to select top-load Samsung washers manufactured between March 2011 and April 2016. However, Samsung has yet, according to CNET, provide consumers with which models are likely to be at risk. However, worried washer owners can enter a serial number onto the Samsung page and this will indicate if a particular device is at risk. For those in the U.S., consumers can additionally report any incidents to the CPSC.
