Maytag Washer Recall

[launderess]

This is from THS. It appears Maytag is having problems with one of it's "MaySung" washers:

"Sorry it took so long to update. Here are the "verified facts". This is from an official communication from Maytag.
"Maytag places top priority on the safety and overall satisfaction of our consumers. To that end, we are suspending the selling and shipment of the Maytag Neptune washer model MAH9700. We have discovered a possible spinner malfunction that poses a potential safety concern with MAH9700 units built during a single day of manufacturing. The total suspect unit population is 685 washers.

"This possible issue involves a potential spinner malfunction under a very extreme set of conditions. The malfunction has only occurred in laboratory conditions and has not been replicated in home use. Despite the very minimal chance of occurrence, we have moved in accordance with our policies to notify appropriate agencies and begin capturing the 685 units built in the serial number range 10513169GC to 10513853GC.

"In order to prevent further distribution of these units to consumer homes and speed their return, we have stopped shipment of the product and are asking that our trade partners immediately stop sales of all MAH9700 units. We are currently investigation another potential change to MAH9700 units currently in the field and will provide feedback on that change in the near future.

"Please note that the Maytag Neptune MAH8700 models are not included in this population and are currently open to otrder and may be sold."

This is from the Senior Vice President of Sales at Maytag."

Launderess

 

[frigilux]

I think poor Maytag needs an excorcism! They are certainly experiencing a big 'ol slapdown....

 

[Designgeek]

Sounds to me they're doing the responsible thing and catching a small number of problem machines before someone gets hurt.

 

[frigilux]

I've often wondered what kind of hell would be unleashed if a support broke and a tub spinning at 1200 rpm with 20 lbs. of wet laundry in it went for a ride around the laundry room. I'd probably not want to be in the vicinity.

 

[maytagbear]

Goodness gracious!

Whatever is next?

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[gansky1]

Wasn't this a problem with the Titan machines in the UK? I remember hearing that the inner wash basket would break off during high speed spin... Scary!

The control knob on the Maytag seems a litle flimsy and cheap, I'd be afraid of that becoming a projectile in "extreme conditions" - laboratory or home use!

 

[westytoploader]

Scary to say the least! You definitely don't want to be caught in the laundry room when that happens!

No new FL's for me! I'm sticking with my 475 RPM White-Westinghouse--at least the spin tub and control knob have no chance of flying off!

 

[partscounterman]

Westy-you say that now....

After having the HE3t, switching back to the slower spinning Maytag stack, then switching back again, I don't think I can find the slower spinning TLs acceptable any more. I think I see why the old Unimatics are so prized. A faster spin is just better. My line dried things feel less "crusty" and of course drying time is shorter in the dryer. With the hettie, I can hang clothes up at bedtime and they are all dry by morning.
It would be scary to have the thing malfunction during that fast spin though

I am still mildly annoyed by the long cycle times. Hope the manufactors can begin to address this issue

 

[foraloysius]

With all the experience that I have with frontloaders, I never ever came across the problem that a drum came loose. I don't think there is a risk that it will happen. The Titan was a problem because the basket wasn't attached to the axis. You could remove it for easy loading and unloading.

As for cycle times, I think the Hetties have some shorter cycles too. I'm sure Appnut can tell you more about it. He knows the manual by heart I'm sure.

 

[alr2903]

back in the consumer archives

believe it was one of the 1940ish, westy that failed and the entire mechanism fell to the bottom of the cabinet any one remember reading this? it was during the endurance testing of the new models, way back when. As someone else posted whats old is new again, guess that holds true for failures as well as "new" features. alr2903.

 

[gansky1]

I've seen a f/l Neptune blow a bolt on one of the legs of the support 'spider' and a Frigemore f/l that had such worn bearings that the drum rubbed right through the boot and outer tub. It's doubtful that a whole tub/drum/motor assembly could get loose at high speeds, but it would be interesting to see in a controlled laboratory setting. Maybe Maytag will put a video up on their website ;-)

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

I think I saw one of these recalls in the store!

Last Saturday I stopped by H.H. Greg's here in Atlanta to look around.
I went to the "Outlet" part of the store to look around and I was shocked to see one of these new Samsung Neptunes. It said on the ticket that it was a return. The price was on different by a couple of hundred dollars.
I opened the door and noticed that all along the glass of the door was rubber dust. I then noticed that the boot was all torn up around where it meets up with the wash basket. When I started to turn the basket, it was so obvious that it was bent, like the entire basket was "out of round." It did not feel like it was disconnected from anything, just that the stainless basket was totally bent in different places. As you turned it, you could hear it scraping against the boot, and the outer wash tub.
I could not get over the fact that they put this on the floor to be sold again. Or I should say that, I can't get over no one that works there noticed this issue.
I just wonder if it was one of these recall models.
Poor Maytag.
Brent

 

[Designgeek]

Brent, go talk to the manager of the store. Any machine that's in the condition you mentioned should be stripped down for viable salvage parts, and then the defective parts tossed in the scrap bin.

 

[mayken4now]

Absolutly Speak with the Owner!

Brent:

Maybe you are not confrontational, but they NEED TO KNOW! If I could drive up to Atlanta, would you take me there? It may require you to go back to the car after you show me the machine!!! I cannot believe this story.

Once this happend to me. It was a few years ago with a refrigerator problem. Did not know or have any evidence that it had been sold then returned. It was packed so well in a box, that all the foam and tape were in exact places. The truth came out in about 3 days!!!!! OH I wasn't happy. And, yes, it was a Maytag. Took me almost two months of haggling to get it replaced, but they finally did. Let me know what you decide!!

Steve

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Okay...I called them.

I called the store and told them about the item that I saw there on this past Saturday.
The Manager that I talked to was very kind, and informed me that it was the model that has been pulled by Maytag, and they pulled the machine that I saw off of the floor, along with the other models they had in the "New" section of the store, that are this model number.
Here is my question....and yes, I did ask him....
Is it that the tub becomes bent when it is spinning?
Or did they put it in the machine bent like that?
He said he did not know that answer, but they had one more return with a "boot that tore off" this week. He assured me that these issues would be corrected by Maytag.
I guess that if it was a matter of it being a "one day of bad production," they can catch them all. I just wonder how true that is. It will be interesting. Time will tell.
I would love to know what the actual unsafe issue is, and how bad it could become in these machines.
Poor Maytag.
They are trying.
Brent

 

[mayken4now]

OK Then

You did you homework!

I do wonder as well Brent, what the "safety issue" is? The article claims to be 685 or around that number of machines. There is a serial number range posted as well. If those were in my store, I'd hide them, or send them back to Maytag. I wouldn't want my customers seeing that brand new machine all torn up on a self destruct cycle! LOL.

Yes all of this needs prayer and is just horrible.

Steve