SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20240408-93CAC-4689965. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: General Electric GUD24ESSJ0WW (stackable washing machine with dryer on top). Incident: 2016: Within 6 months of purchasing the washer, it began to make an extremely loud noise, when in use. The consumer contacted the manufacturer, and a service technician was sent out. The technician told him that a bearing inside the washer was lose and it should not be. The consumer called the manufacturer, and their rep. told him that the noise was normal, and nothing was wrong with it. The noise got worse over time. Within 1 � 2 years, the consumer contacted the manufacturer, and they sent a new technician out. The manufacturer wanted to charge the consumer for the part, but he refused. A manufacturer�s technician replaced a bearing in the washer and the company covered the cost. The problem was corrected. However, the technician also told the consumer that the washer had been worked on before and that the dealer appeared to have sold him a reconditioned washer. Off an on, over the past 3 � 4 years, the washer made a noise when it was emptying water. Over time the noise got extremely worse, where his neighbor complained. Finally, the washer locked up and would no longer work properly.. The consumer removed the front of the washer and saw some of the damage to parts inside of it. He also consulted a friend, who is a technician, who told him that there was most likely a problem with the pump that removes water from the washer. The consumer is concerned that this could contribute or cause a fire/electrical problem.