Washing Machines With Accidental Drying Facility

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Asahi: Sharp recalls washing machines after 19 fires
Sharp Corp. is recalling more than 500,000 washing machines because of a design problem that caused 19 fires, one of which burned down a person's house. The Osaka-based manufacturer will check and repair 521,604 machines in 20 different models at no cost. ...The 15 fires involving single tub machines started when wires snapped, triggering sparks, due to vibrations pulling them taut. In the twin-tub models, a problem with a switch located underneath the upper lid of the spin dryer's tub caused four fires. The switch was a fail-safe mechanism designed to stop the tub when the lid was opened. Occasionally when washed clothes were placed on top of the lower lid, minute fibers and detergent left in the resin of the switch caused carbonization, which led to fires...more...

[Bucky]

Seven fires caused by the single-tub machines, manufactured from November 1998 to December 1999, occurred up until April 2002.
Sharp responded at the time with a recall. A second recall for the ES-42 models was issued in 2004.
Despite the recalls, eight more fires occurred after the first notice was sent out in April 2002.

What, the recalls went out in '02 and they're still chasing them down?

But then the .0000345% of units that started fires does seem pretty low. Unless it was your house that burned down.

[Catoneinutica]

The Japan Times headline was, "Sharp washer gutted home." Our Sharp washer/dryer combo unit only guts my wallet. After we get a new gas dryer later this year, I plan to take the Sharp unit down to Taro's rice farm and fill it with fireworks, plug it in with a loooong extension cord, and let the good times roll.