SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20260209-CFA26-2147323735. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: GE APPLIANCES GFW655SSV0WW (White, dry and washer. CLOTHES WASHER 120 VOLTS 60 HZ 11 AMPS). Incident: I am reporting a safety hazard involving a GE washer that sparked and smoked following a repair performed by a GE/[REDACTED] technician. The washer was initially serviced due to failure to drain or spin properly. During the first visit, the technician did not perform a full inspection. Shortly after, the washer shut off completely and would not power on. On a second visit, the technician diagnosed the issue as a failed motherboard and ordered a replacement. When the replacement motherboard was installed by the authorized technician, the washer immediately sparked and began smoking, creating a potential fire hazard. The technician then stated the issue was due to an electrical problem and advised me to hire an electrician. I hired a licensed electrician to inspect the outlet and electrical supply. The electrician confirmed the outlet was functioning properly at 120 volts and stated that the washer itself posed a potential safety hazard. Based on the symptoms, the electrician indicated the failure was likely internal (such as an inverter or collateral damage to internal components), not an external electrical issue. The washer is currently unplugged and not in use due to safety concerns. I have requested service records and documentation from GE regarding these repair visits and the technicians findings but have not received them. I no longer feel safe operating or servicing this appliance after the sparking and smoking incident caused during a manufacturer-authorized repair.