GE recalls ovens due to fire risk Microwave combo units present danger

WASHINGTON – General Electric recalled 92,000 combination wall and microwave ovens after at least 35 incidents of fire that damaged property, the company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission said this week.

The door switch in the microwave oven can overheat and ignite plastic components in the appliance, the company said.

The lower thermal oven does not pose a hazard and no injuries have been reported, according to the commission.

Department and appliance stores sold the ovens between January 2000 and December 2003.

The ovens were built by GE Consumer & Industrial of Louisville, Ky., and sold under the Kenmore, GE and GE Profile brands.

GE said consumers should stop using the microwave oven immediately and call the company or Sears for Kenmore ovens. The oven, which is built into a wall, may be serviced at no cost at the customer’s home, said Kim Freeman, a GE spokeswoman.

Fairfield, Conn.-based General Electric Co. is offering a free repair or rebate on a new product, a $300 rebate toward the purchase of a new GE brand unit, or a $600 rebate toward the purchase of a new GE Profile brand unit. Sears is offering a free repair or $300 rebate toward the purchase of a new Kenmore brand unit.

The ovens were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The brand name is printed on the lower left corner on the front of the microwave door.

Consumers can call: GE’s Recall Hotline: 888-240-2745; Sears’ Recall Hotline: 888-679-0282; CPSC Recall Hotline: 800-638-2772.

The models recalled under GE/GE Profile brand: JTP85BA2BB, JTP85BA3BB, JTP85BA4BB, JTP85BA5BB, JTP85BD1BB, JTP85WA2WW, GZ, HZ, LZ, JTP85WA3WW, JTP85WA4WW, JTP85WA5WW, JTP85WD1WW, JTP86BF1BB, JTP86CF1CC, JTP86SF1SS, JTP86WF1WW, JTP95BA2BB, JTP95BA3BB, JTP95BA4BB, JTP95BA5BB, JTP95BD1BB, JTP95WA2WW, JTP95WA3WW, JTP95WA4WW, JTP95WA5WW, JTP95WD1WW, JKP85BA3BB, JKP85BD1BB, JKP85WA3WW, JKP85WD1WW, JKP86BF1BB, JKP86CF1CC, JKP86SF1SS, JKP86WF1WW, JT965BF1BB, JT965CF1CC, JT965SF1SS, JT965WF1WW.

Models recalled under the Kenmore brand (all beginning with 911): 41485991, 41485992, 41485993, 41485994, 41489991, 41489992, 41489993, 41489994, 49485992, 49489992, 47692100, 47699100, 47862100, 47869100, 47812200, 47813200, 47814200, 47819200, 47792200, 47793200, 47794200, 47799200.