Samsung Under Fire Now For Exploding Washing Machines Following Galaxy Note 7 Debacle
Remember those Southwest Airlines commercials that ask, "Wanna get away?" Samsung probably does—the South Korean consumer electronics company is having a string of horrible luck with its products lately. Following a global recall its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones with battery packs that were prone to catching fire, Samsung and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a warning about the company's top-loading washing machines after reports of some models exploding.
Yes folks, we said exploding. Melissa Thaxton, a 32-year-old out of Dallas, Georgia, described an alleged incident to ABC News that she says occurred when she was standing right next to her Samsung washing machine while it was running. What made the incident even more harrowing is that her 4-year-old son was beside her when the washing machine exploded.
"It was the loudest sound. It sounded like a bomb went off in my ear. There were wires, nuts, the cover actually was laying on the floor," Thaxton said. "I just remember covering my head and leaning towards my son and just screaming this scream that I didn't even know I could scream."
That isn't the only incident involving a Samsung washing machine. Apparently the CPSC has received reports from nearly two dozen people of their washing machine exploding or being blown apart.
"We are in active discussions with the CPSC to address potential safety issues related to certain top-load washing machines manufactured between March 2011 and April 2016. In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items," Samsung said in a statement.
Samsung went on to recommended to consumers with affected models to use the lower speed delicate cycle when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant materials.
"There have been no reported incidents when using this cycle. It is important to note that Samsung customers have completed hundreds of millions of loads without incident since 2011," Samsung added.
Samsung hasn't said which specific models might be prone to exploding, though it did say that its front-load washers are not affected. To see if you have a potentially defective top-loading washing machine from Samsung, go here and enter your unit's 15-digit serial number where indicated.
In related news, Billy Joel and late 1980s / early 1990s pop culture are no longer under investigation for starting the fire. It's now believed that Samsung might be responsible.
Yes folks, we said exploding. Melissa Thaxton, a 32-year-old out of Dallas, Georgia, described an alleged incident to ABC News that she says occurred when she was standing right next to her Samsung washing machine while it was running. What made the incident even more harrowing is that her 4-year-old son was beside her when the washing machine exploded.
"It was the loudest sound. It sounded like a bomb went off in my ear. There were wires, nuts, the cover actually was laying on the floor," Thaxton said. "I just remember covering my head and leaning towards my son and just screaming this scream that I didn't even know I could scream."
That isn't the only incident involving a Samsung washing machine. Apparently the CPSC has received reports from nearly two dozen people of their washing machine exploding or being blown apart.
"We are in active discussions with the CPSC to address potential safety issues related to certain top-load washing machines manufactured between March 2011 and April 2016. In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items," Samsung said in a statement.
Samsung went on to recommended to consumers with affected models to use the lower speed delicate cycle when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant materials.
"There have been no reported incidents when using this cycle. It is important to note that Samsung customers have completed hundreds of millions of loads without incident since 2011," Samsung added.
Samsung hasn't said which specific models might be prone to exploding, though it did say that its front-load washers are not affected. To see if you have a potentially defective top-loading washing machine from Samsung, go here and enter your unit's 15-digit serial number where indicated.
In related news, Billy Joel and late 1980s / early 1990s pop culture are no longer under investigation for starting the fire. It's now believed that Samsung might be responsible.
