Most people learn about an appliance recall by accident, from a news story or a letter that arrives years after they bought the thing. Recalls are announced continuously, though, and the only way to know whether your refrigerator, dryer or dishwasher is affected is to look it up by its exact model number. It takes about an hour the first time and a few minutes a year after that.
Step 1: Find every label
Recalls are listed by model number, sometimes with a serial number range or manufacture dates. "The white Brand X fridge" isn't enough. Common label locations:
- Refrigerator: the inside wall or ceiling of the fresh-food section, sometimes behind the crisper drawers.
- Dishwasher: the edge of the door or the side of the tub opening.
- Washer: under the lid, on the back, or around the door opening on a front-loader.
- Dryer: inside the door opening or on the back panel.
- Range: behind the storage drawer or on the frame when the oven door is open.
- Microwave: inside the door frame or on the back.
Don't forget the second fridge in the garage, the wine cooler and any countertop appliances.
Step 2: Record what you find
Write down or photograph the brand, model number, serial number and approximate purchase date for each. A simple spreadsheet or a note on your phone is enough.
Step 3: Search the CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall search lets you look up recalls by keyword and filter by category and date. Searching the brand plus the appliance type, like "Whirlpool dishwasher," often works better than entering the full model number, because notices list models in different formats. Read through the results and compare the model numbers in each notice to yours.
Step 4: Check the manufacturer
Most major manufacturers maintain their own recall or safety notice pages, some with a model or serial number lookup. These sometimes give more detail about affected units and how to get the remedy.
Step 5: Look at Recalls.gov
Recalls.gov pulls together recall information from several federal agencies and sends you to the right one. It's useful as a second check.
Step 6: Read the safety reports
SaferProducts.gov, also run by the CPSC, publishes reports submitted by people who believe a product caused harm or could. These aren't recalls, and the CPSC doesn't vouch for their accuracy, but several similar reports about your model are worth knowing about. You can file a report there yourself if you experience a hazard.
Step 7: Register your appliances
Product registration gives the manufacturer a way to contact you directly if a recall is announced later. Most manufacturers allow registration online with the model and serial number.
Step 8: Sign up for alerts
The CPSC offers email notifications for new recalls. Subscribing means a new notice reaches you instead of the other way around.
If your appliance is on the list
- Read the notice carefully. It describes the hazard, which units are affected and what the remedy is.
- If it says to stop using the appliance, stop and unplug it, or turn off its gas or circuit if that's what the notice says.
- Contact the manufacturer through the method in the notice. Remedies are usually a free repair, replacement or refund arranged by the manufacturer.
- Keep the notice and your correspondence with your appliance records.
Recall repairs are handled through the manufacturer's program, not by independent repair companies like us, so start with the contact information in the notice.
No recall, but something seems wrong
If there's no recall but you notice scorch marks, melted plastic, sparking, a burning smell or a breaker that trips repeatedly, unplug the appliance if that can be done safely and stop using it. File a report on SaferProducts.gov and have it inspected. Our technicians work on most major brands, and you can see the full list on our brands page. If you're checking appliances in a home you're about to buy, pair this with the buyer's inspection checklist; for anything bought secondhand, see the used fridge buying guide.
Moving, renting or buying used
Recalls follow the appliance, not the owner, so a unit that changed hands may never have received a fix. That's especially relevant in a region where people move often, whether on military orders, between leases or after a home sale. Any time you inherit an appliance, whether in a rental, a house you've just bought or a secondhand purchase, look it up before you start using it.
Make it a yearly habit
Set a reminder to rerun the searches once a year. Tax season works well, since you're already gathering paperwork. Each time, add any new appliances to your list.