SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20110803-A64DE-2147476575. Matched catalog product: Kenmore 795.77563600. Source model text: 79577563600. Incident: As I was getting ready to leave for vacation I noticed an odor of burning plastic when I opened my refrigerator. The food on the top shelf was not cold. The light housing was melted and the bulb sockets were discolored and burnt. In fact there are burn marks along the top. My husband attempted to remove the plastic housing and he finally did although the plastic had melted to the top of the frig. The switch that recognizes the door as being closed was not functioning, so the light was not going off. We loosened the bulbs to avoid additional heat. This is definitely a fire hazard! When I returned from vacation, I called Sears service center. They were no help. In fact they told me to go to the store. I took the melted plastic with me to the store and asked if there might be a recall. They knew nothing and could do nothing and suggested I call the service center. I pointed out that this had already been done. They suggested I go to the Sears parts store. I went there carrying the melted part and they were also not much help. They referred me to the same place I called before.