750,000 1984 To 1988 Black & Decker And General Electric Under-The-Cabinet Coffeemakers Recalled; Possible Fire Hazard

PRODUCT: Approximately 750,000 SDC 1, 2, and 3 Black & Decker and General Electric Under-the-Cabinet automatic drip coffeemakers made between February 1984 and May 1988. Models with date codes of "406" through "822" are being recalled. The date code is a three-digit number on the outside of the plug prong. No other coffeemaker models or other Black & Decker or General Electric products are involved in this recall.

PROBLEM: About 750,000 of four million coffeemakers sold contain thermostats that could present a possible fire hazard.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers owning the specific coffeemakers should bring them to their local Black & Decker Service Centers for inspection. Products with affected thermostats will be repaired free of charge or consumers may purchase a new coffeemaker at 70 percent off. Coffeemakers that do not contain the affected thermostats will be returned to consumers. All consumers participating in this program at Black & Decker-owned Service Centers will be able to purchase other Black & Decker products at a 20 percent discount while having the coffeemakers inspected. Consumers can call (800) 826-1070 for the location of the nearest service center.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Black & Decker Household Products Group, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announces a voluntary recall of certain Under-the-Cabinet coffeemakers made between 1984 and 1988. Black & Decker is initiating this program because about 750,000 of four million Under-the-Cabinet coffeemakers may contain a thermostat that could present a possible fire hazard.

In accordance with its product safety process, Black & Decker examined Under-the-Cabinet coffeemakers returned by consumers. Approximately 75 showed signs of thermostat damage.

About 45 consumers have reported property damage claims with respect to the Under-the-Cabinet coffeemakers. Property damage allegations range from impairment of the product to varying degrees of residential fire damage. Two consumers claim that they were subject to smoke inhalation. Black & Decker denies claims of any harm beyond damage to the Under-the-Cabinet coffeemaker itself, but is taking this action as a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of property damage or personal injury.

The SDC 1, 2, and 3 Under-the-Cabinet coffeemakers, produced between February 1984 and May 1988, carry either the Black & Decker or General Electric brand name. Black & Decker purchased the assets of GE Housewares division in 1984 and thereafter produced coffeemakers using the GE brand name from 1984 through 1986. These coffeemakers were originally sold nationwide for between $45 and $72. Black & Decker produced approximately four million Under-the-Cabinet coffeemakers during this time period, of which about 750,000 contained the affected thermostat.

Models with date codes of "406" through "822" are being recalled. The date code is a three-digit number on the outside of the plug prong, ("652" date code, for example, falls within the affected range; "901" is outside the range). NO other coffeemaker models or other Black & Decker or General Electric products are involved in this recall program.

Individual consumers owning these specific Under-the-Cabinet coffeemaker models should bring them to their local Black & Decker Service Centers for inspection. For those coffeemakers found to have thermostats described above, Black & Decker Household Products Group is offering the consumer two options -- replacement of the affected thermostat and related components by a service center technician at no cost to the consumer, or purchase of a new Black & Decker coffeemaker at 70 percent off. Coffeemakers found not to contain the affected thermostat will be returned to consumers.

Consumers participating in this recall program at Black & Decker-owned Service Centers also will be able to purchase other Black & Decker products at a 20 percent discount, not to be combined with any other offers, while having the coffeemaker inspected.

Consumers can call 1-800-231-9786 for the location of the nearest service center.