Washing Machines Vibrating So Hard They're Injuring Folks

Samsung has recalled 3M washing machines
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 4, 2016 7:10 PM CDT
New Samsung Recall: 3M Washing Machines
   (Lee Jin-man)

In another black eye for one of the world's leading consumer brands, US authorities announced a recall Friday of nearly 3 million Samsung washing machines following several reports of injuries—including a broken jaw—due to "excessive vibration," the AP reports. The recall comes a month after Samsung recalled millions of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones because of a mysterious problem that caused the phones' batteries to overheat and catch fire. The recall comes after weeks of discussions between Samsung and US authorities about reports that the drums in certain top-loading washing machine models can become unbalanced and cause severe vibration, in some cases causing the top of the machine to detach from the chassis.

Samsung was hit with a lawsuit over the summer by attorneys representing consumers in Texas, Indiana, and Georgia who say their washing machines "exploded" while being used. In a statement Friday , the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited 733 reports of Samsung machines that experienced "excessive" vibration and nine related reports of injuries, including a broken jaw and an injured shoulder. Samsung said the problem occurred when a high-speed spin cycle was used to wash bedding or other bulky items. In a statement, the company's US subsidiary said it's working with retailers and the commission to inform consumers about the problem. (More Samsung stories.)

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