Following nearly 40 reported injuries, GE Appliances has recalled more than 157,000 refrigerators with defective freezer handles.
According to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 71 overall reports of the bottom freezer handle detaching on six different models of the GE Appliances Free-Standing French Door refrigerators in fingerprint resistant stainless-steel. Out of those reports, there have been 37 reported injuries, three of which were serious fall injuries.
Around 155,000 units manufactured between February 2020 and August 2021 were recalled in the U.S., as well as 2,300 in Canada. All of the units were 36 inches wide and were manufactured in Mexico.
Consumers with recalled models might have purchased the refrigerators at: The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy and other home improvement and home appliance stores nationwide and online at Lowes.com and BestBuy.com from February 2020 through January 2022. The models cost between $1,900 and $2,500.
Affected model numbers include: GFE26JYMKFFS, GFE26JYMNFFS, GNE27EYMKFFS, GNE27EYMNFFS, GNE27JYMKFFS, and GNE27JYMNFFS. Serial numbers for the affected models begin with these letter combinations: DR, FR, GR, HR, LR, MR, RR, SR, TR, VR, ZR, AS, DS, FS, GS, HS, LS and MS.
Brand names, model numbers and serial number for each unit should be printed on a label placed on the top of the left side of the interior of the refrigerator compartment.
If someone suspects that they own one of the recalled models, they should contact GE Appliances to confirm and to schedule a free in-home service call to have the freezer’s handle mounting fasteners replaced and the handle re-installed and for instructions for safe use pending a repair. More information is also available in a notice on the GE Appliances website.
“The firm is contacting all known purchasers directly,” said the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
GE Appliances conducted the recall voluntarily under the commission’s Fast Track Recall process.
While they wait for their freezer door handles to be fixed, “consumers can continue using their refrigerators,” said the company. “If the handle is loose, a consumer can open the freezer by gripping the edge of the freezer door where the flexible rubber sealing gasket meets the metal freezer door.”
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