Samsung recalls more than 660,000 washing machines after fire hazard reports

[Unimatic1140]

Strange my Kelvinator, Frigidaires, Apex, GEs and Horton's haven't had a recall!

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/23/business/samsung-washing-machine-recall-fire-hazard/index.html

 

[gelaundry4ever]

samsung recall wonder why

I wonder why? Maybe because the washers you've outlined above were better built.

 

[ultrawash]

It doesn’t surprise me that they would get recalled. This is the second recall on their washing machines if I’m not mistaken.

 

[mrsalvo]

I’m glad I don’t own one. Cousin had a Samsung dishwasher and it didn’t hold up. The way I look at it, the recalls can happen to any make and model. Had an expensive KA dishwasher that didn’t even get 5 years use, kept burning out boards.

Barry

 

[qsd-dan]

Doesn't surprise me, they make the shittiest, most unreliable appliances in the industry. 

 

[lowefficiency]

It says that the fix is a software update.

It would be interesting to know if the software is at fault (causing hardware to do things it shouldn't), or if the software is being used to work around or compensate for a hardware design issue.

 

[peteski50]

Samsung!

I saw this on the news tonight and they said it applies to top load washers. I dont trust any of this new stuff!

 

[turbokinetic]

Samsung to be avoided at all cost. I have spent many months in South Korea working at their facilities and have seen how this company operates from the inside. Totally unsurprising to hear about fires or other accidents due to cost-cutting or overstressing parts to make performance claims. 

 

[ryner1988]

This is why...

Software does NOT belong on washers!

Washers are washers. Computers are computers. The two pieces of equipment do their jobs just fine, apart. They do not belong together. The two should not mix.

If the fix is a software update, shouldn't that be a clue that software does not belong on freaking washing machines?

Ugh!

Ryne

 

[lowefficiency]

>> If the fix is a software update, shouldn't that be a clue that software does not belong on freaking washing machines?

No, because for all we know the software could be working around hardware limitations, or even issues as a result of unforeseen ways the user is using the machine. Eliminating the software wouldn't eliminate the problem.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> Washers are washers. Computers are computers. The two pieces of equipment do their jobs just fine, apart.

You'd be shocked at how much digital logic is in vintage laundry machines. The cam wheels inside mechanical timers are literally firmware, and you can re-program your machine by swapping them. There are multiple levels of conditional logic throughout, with the whole suite of binary inputs (fill sensors, lid/door/OOB, start, centrifugal, temperature, and cycle switches) and outputs (valves, lights, motors, heaters, bells and buzzers).

 

[maytag85]

Not a surprise to me, I knew it was (and still is) foolish to put electronics inside a washer where they are exposed to humidity etc. and can fail in a way where they machine won’t function anymore or will fail in such a way where it’ll short circuit and catch fire. Usually you hear about dryers going up in flames do to lint build up inside the machine but now washers? It’s a world of pure ridiculousness with all this “technology” nonsense they put inside everything these days and people fall for it and believe it’s new when in reality it’s just something that’s been rehashed or purposely make it flashy and sleek and con you out of appliances you had for decades and once your old one is gone, you are are at the whim of the greedy appliance tycoons who don’t give a darn about their customers.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Can anyone legit picture 660-<span style="font-size: 24pt;">THOUS</span>AND washing machines?

 

Anywhere?

 

But you know they've probably made that many.  Not all at once but ....woah.

 

[panasonicvac]

At least that's just for the top loaders and not the front loaders. My uncle has the WF395BTPAWR/A2 front loader and I actually like that washer.

 

[Chetlaham]

Everyone on the inside knows semiconductor controls are a failed idea, burning up at end of life, its been admitted by the very manufacturing reps sitting on NFPA-70s code making panels.

Hence why appliances are now required to have AFCI and GFCI protection.

 

[logixx]

Not too surprising. Our consumer magazine released it's latest test of washing machines. They buy three samples of each model they test and run them through 1.640 cycles. Both Samsung and LG failed, due to bearing failure and cracked concrete weights, respectively.

 

[combo52]

The era of top loading washers is over

There is not a top loading washer built today that I would buy, you just can’t make one energy efficient and still do a good job. Overall, even the Calypso that I like so much has significant limitations when you wash large items in it.

Even though we sell Speed Queen top loaders, I would not personally want one in my house.

The problem is not computers at all.

We have picked up three Maytag top loaders in the last two months on the scrap pile. Fancy models with glass lids made 2015 or later have not found a thing wrong with any of them, and can only conclude that people just don’t like them, and they buy something else .

Yesterday I was working on a 1985 Maytag dryer for one of our customers she had had the matching washer and the damper failed and there was a small hole in the outer tub so she replaced it with a new Maytag top load or three months ago, but she can’t stand the new washer.

John.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>BradfordWhite: Can anyone legit picture 660-THOUSAND washing machines?</blockquote> That's a tiny fraction of the models and machines Samsung, or any major manufacturer, has produced.

 

[turbokinetic]

All of this is so disappointing......  We all need to preserve the earlier models since that may be the only hope.

 

[ryner1988]

Perhaps my wording was wrong...

I guess what I mean is mechanical vs. electronic. Or if you are going to have electronics in your machine, subject them to rigorous testing and real-life scenarios before sending them out the door. I think quality control at Samsung must suck, because didn't they have some issues with washers literally exploding on the inside years ago? I thought I remember hearing something about that.

John, you are exactly correct. Top loaders made after 2010, sans Speed Queen, are terrible for the most part. Old TL's are fine, though admittedly not energy efficient as you said, new front loaders are good but the hybrid that is a HE TL just isn't a good washer. I've never had a great experience with one. There are budget TL's on the market today that do wash well but they last a pitifully short amount of time.

If I had to buy a new washer, I'd get a front load LG with turbo wash or a Speed Queen TC5 TL. Can't see myself being able to afford an SQ FL any time soon. But no washplate for me.

Ryne

 

[repairguy]

The biggest problem with appliances today is the price people will pay for it. Because people will buy a certain model because it is a dollar cheaper than another is the biggest driving factor. We are a niche market and far from the majority of appliance purchasers. There are many kitchens for example full of new appliances that are only there for looks and will never be used. In my experience with the majority of customers they want change often and really don’t want to keep the same appliance for 40 + years.

As cited many times on this site alone folks think it’s a great idea for a speed queen but are not willing or can’t spend the money to purchase a great American built machine that will last. I for one will probably never buy a new appliance for the rest of my life but knowing what I know about speed queen if I didn’t have the money I would finance a new pair if that’s what it took. Again most of us are appliance enthusiasts here and there just aren’t enough of us for the manufacturers to build them the way we think they should but lucky for us we have this site and the wealth of information even for someone that’s never worked on one before to revive the machine for more years of dependable service doing the job being washing, drying, cooking, refrigerating, etc. the way we want them to.

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #20

Melvin, very well said. For example, as a blind person I can't work on vintage appliances myself but I know enough about them that I can pay someone to do what I need them to, per my instruction.

For example, my brother-in-law isn't an appliance person per se but he is a tinkerer by nature so he has fixed many things in his household that would have otherwise been sent to the landfill. He and my sister have a direct drive Whirlpool, similar age to mine, that he restored several years ago and it's been in service since. He wasn't able to make it to me over the Christmas weekend like we had planned due to the cold/wind, but when the weather is better he's going to come replace my gearcase, clutch, coupler, and swap out agitators in my 2005 DD. I had also remembered you mentioning on another thread to go ahead and replace the spin tube seal while it's apart, so we're doing that as well. After this is all done the washer should not need touched for several years at least, I'm thinking.

If the DD were to for some reason die a horrific unrepairable death I would do what I had to do to get a good modern machine. No budget crap is coming in here after my VMW Whirlpool from 2016 died after 5 years. If that means I have to finance to get something decent, so be it.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> Or if you are going to have electronics in your machine, subject them to rigorous testing and real-life scenarios before sending
>> them out the door. I think quality control at Samsung must suck, because didn't they have some issues with washers literally
>> exploding on the inside years ago? I thought I remember hearing something about that.

Yes - 100% agree on the need for rigorous testing. Very important, and easy for management to skimp on when under cost pressure. Samsung has had a number of recalls - there was a big one for washer fires in Australia too a few years back.

From Samsung's notice:
"This software remedy addresses potential overheating within the control panel of certain models. Such events present a smoking, melting, overheating, or fire hazard to the product and consumer."

In the CPSC notice, they instead refer to it as a "short-circuit", which is a bit more specific. "Potential overheating" could just be a duty cycle limitation, part being run at its limits, etc, but "short-circuit" is a failure full stop. Sometimes stressing electronics can lead them to fail shorted, so the first could lead to the second. But either way I'd bet some errant control logic is at fault.

 

[bradfordwhite]

I've written before ...

and it still holds true:

 

"The best solution I've found to make electronic timers, and electronic devices in general, last and operate problem free is to simply <span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">unplug</span> them or some how <span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">turn off the electricity to the device</span> when not in use. Give them at least a half an hour per day not energized.

Pull the plug on that electronic washer when it's not in use. Or install a timer.
So easy.

This also holds true for cel phones, modems, and computers.

But I can bet that's TOO EASY, yes too easy for some and there are those who will scoff at the very notion.

For those who scoff and fail to implement such a simple idea that works- you deserve the problems you'll get."

 

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?91409_31~1

 

[Chetlaham]

The beauty in EM timers: they turn themselves off automatically at the end of each cycle.

I would avoid plugging and unplugging as it tends to wear out the contacts of receptacles, especially those cheap 50 cent builder's grade.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Unplugging?

Or use a surge protector.. Yes, I know, they're built in...

But...

My Duet FL's control board went out year # 2.. Before I went out, error codes, fixes that didn't work, etc. I just knew I had an expensive lemon.. Once that board got replaced, in just a few months, it will be 18 years old. The only thing I did after the board was replaced? Plugged the machine into a surge protector. Is that the reason I've had no issues? Maybe... Maybe not..

Samsung would be the LAST appliance brand I would buy. I would have to be desperate.. I've heard more good about LG than bad.

 

[ryner1988]

"I've heard more good about LG than bad."

This. If I had to get a modern machine, LG would be my third option.

My choices in rank order would be:

Speed Queen FF7. Probably not gonna happen because even with financing, that price tag would be really, really tough for me to swing in a fixed income. Unless I could find one used, I just can't see myself being able to do it.

Speed Queen TC5. This would probably be my most likely option as even though it's still expensive, one could finance the machine and make the price workable. But if there were none available and I needed a new machine right away, or if I just decided that front load would ultimately be best, I would do...

LG with turbo wash. I've really heard very few bad things about this machine. I think FL's with a recirculating pump should be the gold standard in 2023 and beyond. Still using very little water, but making use of resources to deliver a superior result. I think the turbo wash is truly a great design and hope other manufacturers start to use it.

No Samsung for me, ever. I was actually thinking about a Samsung washer several months ago when my Maytag A112 washer died, but I just couldn't bring myself to take a chance after hearing so many negative opinions on them.

You know the funny thing is, when I bought my 2005 WP TL in July, I was strongly considering a WP Duet that the appliance store also had. It was roughly the same age, a 2006 model I believe, but since I had to order online, I wasn't able to go in and see how the machine looked, i.e., filth in the gasket, etc. I know that front loaders need more? different? maintenance than TL's and I didn't want to end up with a poorly performing neglected machine. But I was astounded that an FL had lasted that long, and apparently Mark's experience is the same. I will say that I had a closed mind to the possibility of an electronic FL being a buy it for life machine, and I have since reconsidered my stance. The knowledge I have acquired on this site and elsewhere has helped me get rid of some silly notions and biases I've had about appliances for years.

Ryne

 

[mrboilwash]

There`s a lot of Samsung bashing here so there must be some truth to it but IIRC a few years ago our consumer magazine had all 3 LGs fail whereas the Samsungs held up well.
Am on my 3rd Samsung phone and have always been happy with them.
My first VCR in the late 80s was a dirt cheap Samsung and it was incredibly reliable.
Just bought a Samsung microwave with convection heat and I couldn`t be happier with the performance. Reliability wise I can only hope for the best after reading all those negative comments, time will tell.

 

[panasonicvac]

We have a LG stove that we bought around the same time as our LG washer and dryer. We were using it for around a month or so until we had a problem one night. My dad was using the bottom oven since it has a convection, he was taking a pot out of there afterwards and he accidently broke the top oven glass door with the pot. We had a LG service tech come out and replace the door but LG wanted to charge us because they knew it was my dad's fault. However, he and the LG technician both agreed that this was a design issue because if you notice on the stove here, there is no silver frame for the bottom other than the sides and the top. So the LG technician fought with LG to warrant for a replacement door at no charge and eventually that was granted unto us. We were also granted a free exchange or replacement of the same model I believe if we chose to. But my dad knew eventually this would happen again at some point as one of us could accidently break the same door again so he tried to have LG take the stove back and refund us but they refused. I get that we were over the return policy. I remember my dad was looking into a Samsung to replace the LG if they did took the stove back but of course that didn't happen. So since then, we've been super careful of using the bottom oven. Other than that incident, it still cooks just fine. But I liked our old Jenn-Air better. At least I'm super glad we replaced our old Jenn-Air because rodents we're getting through the vent as the Jenn-Air had a fan on top of the stove for steam coming out of the pots and/or pans. I wondered if that Samsung he was looking into would've done a better job than the LG.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Yep - 18 years in April... Crazy hard to believe...

Lorraine Furniture (an appliance guy who also does YouTube videos) praises LG front loaders. He takes them apart and says they are super easy to work on...