Whirlpool washing machine (branded as Hotpoint or Indesit) recall launched

worldtraveller

Half a million washing machines in UK homes are to be recalled, plunging manufacturer Whirlpool into a fresh saga over dangerous appliances.

The machines, branded as Hotpoint or Indesit, were sold for more than five years, but their door locking system can overheat creating the risk of fire.

BBC News

Whirlpool has set up a model checker online. Owners of Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines bought since October 2014 will need to enter the model and serial number of their appliance - found inside the door or on the back - to see if it is one of those affected.

There is also a free helpline, open every day, available on 0800 316 1442.

If affected, to eliminate any risk, the appliance should be unplugged and not used until it repaired in their home by a trained engineer, Whirlpool said. As an alternative, those affected will also be offered a replacement with a safe model.

Owners can check and register for a repair or replacement now.

Vulnerable customers will be prioritised, but for others it may be organised on a first come, first served basis.

justaquestion

Yep the model checker link doesn't work, bet if it was a website to sell whirlpool products a lot more resources would have gone into it.

Is there any techy person on here who can assess the real risks of a fire taking place, provided the machine is only used when someone is about?.

Whirlpool I believe want people to use a cold wash.

In my case its totally unrealistic not to be able to use a washing machine for the foreseeable future .

I had the Whirlpool Dryer problem as well. Got the modification done as that was only what was on offer at the time.

boatman

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-12-17/whirlpool-to-recall-hundreds-of-thousands-of-fire-risk-washing-machines/
List here, or

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/whirlpool-recall-washing-machine-list-hotpoint-indesit-models-full-fire-risk-warning-1343654





The website gives up, has done for the past few hours, i got cut off after 5 minutes of holding on the phone.

coffeehound

Seems odd to have the door switch as part of the heater circuit?

elsien

Mine's an affected model. Sod's law. Wonder how long it'll be to get it sorted.
ETA - also cut off at the 5 minute mark.

Got through. Not worth phoning. They just confirm the model is affected then tell you to register on the website. Along with the advice to use a cold wash and that nothing at all will be happening till January at the earliest . And possibly not till a while after that.

elsien

For anyone else registering, to save legging it up and down the stairs from the computer, they ask the model number, what the serial number label looks like, the serial number and then the colour of the door lock (choose appropriate picture.)
You may wish to take photos before you try to get online!

justaquestion

So my machine is on the affected list, but going to have to wait until tomorrow to contact them as got cut off a few times.

So it may be that certain machines though on the list may not be affected since they are looking for serial number as well do you think?

elsien

You're better off just going straight online. They don't seem able to do the necessary checks by phone.
It does sound as though not all the relevant ones are affected though - there's a caveat to say that if they turn up with a new machine and your door lock is the wrong (unaffected) colour, they'll just leave you with the original machine. Which is fair enough.
https://washingmachinerecall.whirlpool.co.uk/

Keeps going down though but I don't think there's any rush.

Jayne69

My washer is one that's affected. I purchased it through a company called fair for you.
They do loans which once approved redirect you to the manufacturer website and you purchase from there.
Fair for you have promised that any of their customers that are affected they will help to get a replacement.
However after the problems with the dryers and now the washers I would rather ask for my money back.
Would this be possible being as the item was not fit for purpose in the first place.
Really don't want another whirlpool/hotpoint/indesit product in my home after all this plus I really don't have faith that what will be offered will be like for like

elsien

How old is your machine?
Whirlpool are offering repair or replacement - your choice which option you prefer. Unless yours is a new machine and qualifies for a refund under the consumer rights act, I can't see you getting your money back. Plus your payments will include interest to the loan company. The finance agreement is a separate issue.

LeeHamo

From what I can see, my model number is rsa 845jx UK
This is not on the list, can't help but feel a little worried to use it still after this recall, can it really be that much different to the affected ones?