Appliance manufacturer LG is being forced to recall almost half a million washing machines sold in the USA under it’s own LG and also Kenmore Elite brands for excessive vibration and possible minor property damage.
There have been 343 washing machines said to have been shaking excessively and one injury has been reported according to the recall notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
This recall involves three LG and three Kenmore Elite top-loading washing machine models manufactured between February 2010 and November 2011.
The units come in beige, white and graphite steel colors and have the following model and serial number ranges, which can be found on a label fixed on the rating plate on the back of the machine.
The recalled models include:
LG: WT5001CW, WT5101HV and WT5101HW with serial numbers ranging from 002KW******* to 111KW*******.
Kenmore Elite: 29002, 29272 and 29278 with serial numbers ranging from 005KW******* to 111KW*******.
Made by LG in South Korea, the Kenmore Elite models were sold at Kmart and Sears and the LG models were sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Kmart, Sears as well as some local retailers in the US from April 2010 to December 2012 for between $899 and $1,099.
LG and Sears are offering free in-home repairs and supplying consumers with supplemental information to be inserted into their owner’s manual and a caution label to be placed on the washing machine.
LG advises consumers who have observed their washing machine shaking excessively to stop using it until it’s fixed. Contact LG at (855) 400-4639 or visit LG’s website. For Kenmore or LG washers purchased at Sears or Kmart, call (888) 812-2935 or visit the Sears website.
To our knowledge no UK or European washing machine models are affected.