Samsung’s issues with exploding devices may, oddly enough, extend far beyond the public relations disaster that was the recently recalled Galaxy Note 7. According to a report from ABC News, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning in regards to top-loading Samsung washing machines after fielding numerous complaints about the machines exploding.
Hardly isolated incidents, the CPSC since 2015 has seen at least 21 reports from consumers involving exploding washing machines. In one story relayed by ABC News, one owner described the incident as being nothing short of harrowing.
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“It was the loudest sound. It sounded like a bomb went off in my ear,” owner Melissa Thaxton said during an interview. “There were wires, nuts, the cover actually was laying on the floor.”
Thaxton added that her four-year old son, in the wake of the explosion, “was just screaming this scream that I didn’t even know I could scream.”
Exploding Galaxy Note 7 devices over the last few weeks caused no shortage of damage, but exploding washing machines, by mere virtue of their size alone, arguably pose much more of a grave threat to users. And that, of course, says quite a bit given what we’ve seen what exploding Note 7 devices can do. Over the past few weeks, Galaxy Note 7 devices have been responsible for parked cars becoming engulfed in flames and a large number of burn reports.
With the CPSC now taking action, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Samsung is now being sued for its exploding washing machine problem.
For those who own top-loading Samsung washing machines, the company advises users to only use “the delicate cycle when washing bedding and bulky items.”
Samsung’s full comments on the matter read:
We are in active discussions with the CPSC to address potential safety issues related to certain top-load washing machines manufactured between March 2011 and April 2016. 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.
Samsung is recommending that consumers with affected models use the lower speed delicate cycle when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant materials. There have been no reported incidents when using this cycle. It is important to note that Samsung customers have completed hundreds of millions of loads without incident since 2011.
CPSC and Samsung are working on a remedy for affected consumers that will help ensure there are no further incidents. We will provide updated information to the public as soon as possible on this website.
If you own a top-loading Samsung washing machine, you can see if your machine is vulnerable by entering in your serial number here.
