Whirlpool to recall thousands of washing machines over fire risk

Whirlpool has said they are to recall as many as 519,000 washing machines over fire safety concerns, just months after they recalled potentially dangerous tumble dryers.

Hotpoint and Indesit brands that were sold between October 2014 and February 2018 in the UK may be affected by a flaw within the door locking system that could overheat causing a potential fire.

Owners of the appliances are to contact Whirlpool immediately to see if their model is affected. The recall will officially start in early January and Whirlpool are working at “full speed.” In the interim, customers are being advised not use the washing machines and unplug them.

Whirlpool Corporation vice president Jeff Noel said, “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and concern this may cause to our customers, particularly over the Christmas period, but we hope people will understand that we are taking action because people’s safety is our top priority.

“Preparing for a recall of this scale is a complex operation and we are working tirelessly to ensure we are ready to start offering replacements or repairs to our customers from early January.”

Customers can call Whirlpool’s freephone number on, 0800 316 1442 or alternatively consumers can check if their appliance is affected by visiting https://washingmachinerecall.whirlpool.co.uk

Noel added, “This is an issue we inherited from buying Indesit Company, but as the new owner, it is our responsibility to keep our customers safe.

“We are recalling these products because it is the right thing to do for people’s safety and we will do whatever it takes to put the situation right for our customers.

“By taking actions like this, we are bringing the company we acquired in line with Whirlpool’s industry-leading global safety and quality standards.”