More Than Half a Million Samsung Washing Machines Recalled Over Fire Risks

Samsung has issued a massive top-loading washing machine recall following dozens of reports involving problems where the appliances short circuited and overheated, resulting in property damage and injuries to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSCP) announced a Samsung washing machine recall on December 22, indicating that owners of more than 600,000 devices should immediately stop using their machines to prevent the possibility of electrical shock and fire hazards.

To date, the CPSC and Samsung are aware of at least 51 reports of instances where the washing machines experienced short circuiting events that have resulted in smoking, melting, overheating or catching on fire. According to the reports, 10 consumers have reported property damage caused by the defect while three consumers have reported injuries due to smoke inhalation.

The recall includes approximately 633,500 Samsung top-loading washers equipped with super speed wash settings which contain model numbers beginning with the following sequences;

• WA49B
• WA50B
• WA51A
• WA52A
• WA54A
• WA55A

Recalled Samsung washing machines were sold in multiple colors, including white, black, champagne and ivory. They were sold at Best Buy, Costco, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and other appliance stores nationwide and online at Samsung.com from June 2021 through December 2022 for between $900 and $1,500.

Customers are being instructed to verify whether their Samsung washing machine is included in the recall by locating the model and serial number found on the washer’s label, which is on the inside of the top lid.

The repair to fix the washing machines from short-circuiting and overheating will include an over-the-air software upgrade for washing machines that have been turned on and connected to the internet. For models that are Wi-Fi equipped, and are connected to the internet, the over-the-air upgrade is being pushed automatically, according to the recall notice. Customers may check to see whether their recalled washing machine has received the update by visiting Samsung’s software update notice.

For customers who either do not have a Wi-Fi enabled model, or have chosen not to connect the washing machine to the internet, Samsung will provide a free dongle that will plug into the machine and download the software repair. For additional information on how to receive the free software download, customers may contact Samsung toll-free at 833-916-4555 and reference the recall number 23-080.

Samsung Washing Machine Recall Settlements

The short-circuiting problems follow a series of Samsung lawsuits that were filed after a 2017 recall, which impacted nearly 3 million top-loading washing machines that were at risk of breaking apart, exploding and causing projectiles to fly from the machines during use, posing a hazard for consumers.

At that time, Samsung reported it was aware of at least 733 consumer reports involving abnormal and excessive vibrations when the units were washing bedding or water-resistant and bulky items. Consumers report that the machines began to abnormally vibrate and rattle prior to them dislodging and breaking apart.

Following the recall, a steady stream of Samsung washing machine lawsuits were filed by plaintiffs nationwide, over the damages and injuries allegedly caused by the washing machines themselves, as well as class action complaints that allege the company’s efforts to compensate owners for the defective washing machines were inadequate, and appeared to be designed to force consumers to do more business with Samsung.

As the number of Samsung class action lawsuits continued to grow, the manufacturers and distributors named in the lawsuits which included Samsung, Best Buy, Lowe’s and Home Depot ultimately offered a global settlement which offered customers several compensation options including a rebate, a repair and compensation for drain pump failures.