Kenmore electric clothes dryers
28 reports to CPSC, the latest made Apr 6, 2026. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Nov 5, 2026.
- 28reports to CPSC
- Apr 6, 2026the latest report was made
- Apr 18, 2011the earliest
- 25with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Kenmore
- Maker
- Sears Holdings Management CorporationMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Electric clothes dryersDryers alone, not combined unitsCPSC’s product type: Electric Clothes Dryers Without Washers (code 106), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Laundry, Fabric Care & Sewing
Other ways the reports write the brand (8)
“Kenmore Elite”, “Kenmore 69132 Electric Dryer”, “Kenmore Electric Dryer”, “Kenmore Elite H E 3”, “Kenmore manufactured for Sears & Roebuck”, “Kenmore/Whirlpool”, “kenmore clothes dryer” and “kenmore elite”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | 1 |
| February 2020 | 1 |
| July 2019 | 1 |
| December 2017 | 1 |
| June 2017 | 1 |
| November 2016 | 1 |
| July 2016 | 1 |
| June 2016 | 1 |
| May 2016 | 1 |
| March 2016 | 1 |
| June 2015 | 1 |
| March 2015 | 1 |
| August 2013 | 1 |
| July 2013 | 1 |
| May 2013 | 2 |
| April 2013 | 1 |
| February 2013 | 1 |
| December 2012 | 1 |
| November 2012 | 1 |
| October 2012 | 1 |
| September 2012 | 1 |
| June 2012 | 1 |
| April 2012 | 1 |
| January 2012 | 1 |
| December 2011 | 1 |
| July 2011 | 1 |
| April 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Hurt, no treatment 5 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- Hurt, care not known 1 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known
- No one hurt 20 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- Not said 2 CPSC: Unspecified
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
-
No one hurt Made Apr 6, 2026, sent to the company Apr 9, 2026, published by CPSC Apr 23, 2026
The product, in the report: Kenmore He2 clothes dryer, Model # 110.87089601, red.
My clothes dryer caught on fire.
- Model
- 110.87089601
- Serial number
- MU0302924
- Where
- Britt, Minnesota: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 46, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Feb 19, 2020, sent to the company Mar 18, 2020, published by CPSC Apr 1, 2020
The product, in the report: White, 27 inch.
Kenmore electric dryer was purchased approximately 8 years ago and had yearly routine maintenance. Model number 110.69822800 serial number MY0605408. Clothes were in dryer in the basement and smoke was smelled. Buzzer was activated signalling clothes were done but would not go off. Called Sears repairman and he came out several days later. When removing the front top control panel it was seen that the wires had melted together and a fire had started and burned out. There was a maintenance guide for a repairman that also caught fire. The damage was total.
- Model
- 110.69822800
- Serial number
- MY0605408
- Bought from
- Sears Holdings Management Corporation, Illinois
- Where
- Cheektowaga, New York: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 72, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore Electric Dryer, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jul 3, 2019, sent to the company Jul 26, 2019, published by CPSC Aug 9, 2019
The product, in the report: Kenmore Electric Clothes dryer
The clothes dryer was running. My wife smelled something funny. When she looked at the dryer there were flames coming out of the top of the dryer. She called the fire company who came very quickly. After the fire was put out they looked at the dryer to determine fire cause. When they looked at the dryer, it was discovered that the most likely cause of the fire was that a wire behind the top front control plastic panel was against the back metal housing wall. The wire looked like the insulation had rubbed through and started to arc then started the fire. The dryer is just about 10yrs old. Luckily there was not any combustibles on or around the top of the dryer. This could have resulted in a house fire.
- Model
- 417,88042700
- Serial number
- XD84302570
- Bought from
- Sears, Pennsylvania
- Bought
- Dec 3, 2008, about then
- Where
- Robesonia, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 55, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Dec 13, 2017, sent to the company Mar 30, 2018, published by CPSC Apr 13, 2018
The product, in the report: Residential Kenmore Electric Dryer - fire hazard
Kenmore Electric Dryer Model# 110.85081400 Ser# : MS1001398
The Kenmore Dryer has a safety hazard allowing metal coins to come in contact with exposed thermal fuse leads and built up lint.
On 29 November 2017 Above model dryer quit heating. I checked on Youtube for the causes... a major cause is a blown Thermal Fuse. I checked the dryer inside the dryer cabinet. The dryer was purchased from Kenmore/Sears in approximately 2014. It came with the house that I just purchsed.
When I removed the front housing cover, I could see that the lint accumulates inside the main dryer housing. There is enough space between the drum and the seal for a coin to slip through from time to time. One quarter dropped onto the thermal fuse crossing both contacts, creating a fire hazard with the lint inside the dryer housing. The quarter had an electrical burn on each end where it shorted out across the bare metal electrical clips connecting the thermal fuse. We were fortunate that the lint did not combust, the dryer just stopped heating. There was a one inch layer of lint inside the dryer housing covering the thermal fuse and other components. After vacuuming out the inside dryer cabinet and removing layers of lint build up, replacing the thermal fuse and recovering about 6 coins, I found that the dryer works great. I contacted Sears with the RECOMMENDATION: Issue recall notice /Safety Notice to tape the thermal fuze leads with black electrical tape so that no part of the thermal fuse contacts are exposed.
Sears/Kenmore did not address the safety issue, instead offering to send a technician and bill me to check what I had already fixed. I then contacted Consumer Product Safety Commission so that you can issue a safety recall notice with instructions to fix.
-----Original Message---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: emailform@cpsc.gov [mailto:emailform@cpsc.gov] Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 3:38 PM To: Center, Information <Info@cpsc.gov> Subject: Form submission from: Send a Message to CPSC’s Information Center
Submitted on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 - 15:38 Submitted by user: Anonymous
Submitted values are:
Organization / Affiliation: Home Owner
I recommend a safety recall notice for Kenmore Electric Dryer Model 110.85081400 Ser: MS1001398 due to fire hazard. Kenmore did not acknowledge the broader issue adequately. I am copying you on the thread. My recommendation for the fix is in Part 1 and Part II.
Dear [REDACTED],
Thank you for your offer to send a repairman.
As a mechanical engineer, I see this as a design flaw and this issue should be escalated to your senior safety team as well as the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Recommended Course of Action: Immediately notify all customers of the hazard and include the recommended fix.
PART I. 1) Unplug the Dryer from the electrical outlet. 2) Access the thermal fuse 3) Using black electrical tape, Wrap the bare metal leads on the wire attaching to the thermal fuse. 4) Vacuum out the inside of the dryer cabinet to remove excess lint. If excess lint is found, check, and clean the dryer vent tube. 5) Reassemble. 6) Plug in the Dryer
PART II. 1) Send out a safety bulletin to all Sears/ Kenmore repair sites to immediately include wrapping the exposed thermal fuse leads with black tape on service calls.
If you do that, you might save a child’s life from a preventable fire. No engineer wants that on his/her conscience. I fixed my dryer myself following the steps outlined in Part 1.
All the best,
Name , BS ME, MBA
On Dec 13, 2017, at 11:33 AM, Sears Holdings Solutions wrote:
Dear Valued Member,
Thank you for contacting sears.
We truly apologize for the inconvenience caused. This is definitely not what we want our members to experience.
In this case I can schedule a service with our senior technician to get the product get repair.
If you wish to schedule a service, I request you to please confirm us your feasible date and time to schedule a service.
Once we schedule a service, our technician will diagnose the product and gives you the estimate for the repair.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 800-479-6351.
We look forward for your co-operation to serve you better.
Regards, [REDACTED] Sears Holdings Corporation.
Original Message Follows: ------------------------ From: www-data To: [REDACTED] Subject: Sears / URGENT / Web / Date: December 13, 2017 5:53:57 AM IST
[REDACTED]
[REDACTED] Item: Kenmore Dryer Model: Elite HE4 When: Not Within Year
- Model
- 110.85081400
- Serial number
- 1001398
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Dec 1, 2014, about then
- Where
- Louisville, United States: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 8, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore manufactured for Sears & Roebuck, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jun 20, 2017, sent to the company Sep 7, 2017, published by CPSC Sep 22, 2017
The product, in the report: Kenmore High Efficiency dryer 7.6 cu ft Electric dryer w/sanitize cycle - white
I purchased a Kenmore dryer - model number 68102 and it recently starting emitting a burning smell. When I checked the dryer lint trap, I noticed a void that lead straight down to the bottom of the dryer where the motor resides. I immediately unplugged the dryer from the wall as the burning smell was growing. I stood by and waited for the smell to clear. I then removed the back of the dryer and discovered that in the bottom of the dryer there was a collection of lint that had caught fire. This should not have happened. I called Sear’s and they could not confirm there was a part missing. I checked with a friend that has the same type of dryer and she does not have a void under her lint screen. This is a serious hazardous if Kenmore has neglected to include this piece in other dryer of this type. Sear’s is not willing to assist me in resolving this issue.
- Model
- 68102
- Bought from
- Sear’s, Texas
- Bought
- Dec 30, 2013
- Where
- Spring, Texas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 41, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Nov 24, 2016, sent to the company Dec 2, 2016, published by CPSC Dec 16, 2016
The product, in the report: Kenmore 69132 Electric Dryer
Kenmore Model 69132 Fire in top right of unit, on Control Board. Dryer is approximately 1-year old. This was NOT a lint fire, damage to the electric control unit.
The Kenmore dryer was running a light load. The control unit (PC board) under the top right cover burned up. I noticed a burning electronics smell in the basement, and looking around, noticed the light inside the dryer was flicking on and off while the unit was running.
I went over to the device, and noticed smoke coming from under the control area (top right side of dryer).
Fortunately, I noticed this incident very quickly after it started, and pulled the power cord from the wall, stopping the fire before it became worse, although the entire house now smells liked burned PCBs, and have had to involve a restoration company to remediate the smell.
- Model
- Kenmore 69132 Electric Dryer
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Jan 1, 2016, about then
- Where
- OAKMONT, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore 69132 Electric Dryer, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Jul 14, 2016, sent to the company Jul 22, 2016, published by CPSC Aug 9, 2016
The product, in the report: [REDACTED] Dryer, your categories suck
I was drying clothes in a Kenmore Elite Dryer.
When I finished drying the clothes and the dryer had beeped. I di not go to get the clothes out immediately. About 15 minutes passed before I opened the Dryer, and the clothes were scalding hot, I dropped them to the garage floor. The dryer smelled of burnt cloth.
After that incident the Dryer will not start.
This has happened before. I am 48 years old, and have never touched clothes that were this hot. I have pretty tough skin too, but these clothes were pipping hot. This is a dangerous product and it needs to be recalled immediately
I put the clothes on the bed and waited an hour. The clothes that were at bottom of pile were still hot, at least by then they were at warmth of a regular clothes.
- Model
- 110.082822102
- Serial number
- mro337998
- Bought from
- Infinite Appliance
- Bought
- Jan 30, 2016
- Where
- Fremont, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 48, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore Elite H E 3, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Jun 6, 2016, sent to the company Jul 18, 2016, published by CPSC Aug 3, 2016
The product, in the report: 700 series electric dryer
(4/1/16 Approximately) The consumer was using the dryer and noticed after the second load that the clothes were not drying properly. The consumer contacted her home warranty company, [REDACTED] and a technician was sent to her home to inspect the dryer. The consumer states that the technician replaced the thermostat.
(6/1/16) The consumer set the clothes to dry for 38 minutes. The consumer states that this was the first load she did on this day. Approximately 2 hours later, the consumer noticed the dryer was still running and when she walked in the laundry room she noticed the dryer was very hot to the touch. The consumer then unplugged the dryer.
(6/2/16) The consumer contacted [REDACTED] and a technician was scheduled to go to her home on 6/4/16.
(6/4/16) The technician inspected the dryer and advised the consumer that the timer needed to be replaced. The consumer then contacted Sears and they advised her that the dryer was recalled. The consumer was referred to contact CPSC to report the dryer.
The consumer does 6 loads a week.
6/15/16 - technician installed timer. Dryer still would not shut off on its own.
Technician ordered power board. This was in stalled on 6/22/16. Dryer is finally working.
The consumer believes the product was purchased in a Sears store in Rapid City, SD. The consumer states that a Sears store in Atlanta, GA delivered the product to her home in December 2014.
- Model
- 1106810231
- UPC
- Unknown
- Serial number
- M44446964
- Bought from
- Sears
- Where
- Woodstock, Georgia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 10, 2016, sent to the company May 18, 2016, published by CPSC Jun 2, 2016
The product, in the report: Kenmore Electric Dryer
Lint is accumulating under dryer and igniting into fire.
- Model
- 110.82822102
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Sep 10, 2004
- Where
- West Palm Beach, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 41, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Not said Made Mar 14, 2016, sent to the company Apr 20, 2016, published by CPSC May 4, 2016
The product, in the report: electric dryer
(03/13/2016) The consumer stated that the she was using the dryer and discovered that there was no heat. The last time that the consumer used the unit, it worked properly.
(03/14/2016) The consumer contacted a service technician who come in and checked the dryer. The consumer was advised that the wires in the control panel were melted.
The consumer added the technician showed her the burned wires and she has submitted photos. The consumer also added the safety valve was working, but did not alarm them that the wires were burnt or malfunctioned. The consumer noted they could have had a house fire. The consumer also noted she has the defective unit for proof of damage and evidence that the safety switch/alarm did not shut down the dryer unit.
- Model
- 796.81549210
- Serial number
- 104KWDJEC746
- Bought from
- Sears, Massachusetts
- Bought
- Oct 7, 2012
- Where
- Rohobath, Massachusetts: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore Elite, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Jun 30, 2015, sent to the company Jul 9, 2015, published by CPSC Jul 23, 2015
The product, in the report: Kenmore electric clothes dryer, model # 26-69822, purchased 03/30/2009
Kenmore Electric Clothes dryer, model #26-69822 . Start switch was pressed, sparks flew out of console and thick black smoke came out of console. Unit was 6 years old.
- Model
- 26-69822
- Serial number
- MY1301601
- Bought from
- Sears, New Jersey
- Bought
- Mar 30, 2009
- Where
- Sewell, New Jersey: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 68, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Mar 6, 2015, sent to the company Mar 18, 2015, published by CPSC Apr 1, 2015
The product, in the report: electric dryer
Kenmore model 110.87572601 ser# MU1106600 Electrical relay/control board failure. During a drying cycle electrical meltdown with smoke, top panel paint burned off and dryer continued to run at maximum heat. I happened to come down to the basement and smelled the smoke and felt the heat from the door. I pressed the stop button the dryer would not stop , I opened the door the dryer would not stop. I had to turn off the circuit breaker at the electric panel to make the dryer stop. The load of clothing was minutes away from igniting. The dryer is 8 years old and consumers should be warned of this model fire hazard.
- Model
- 110.87572601
- Serial number
- MU1106600
- Bought from
- K-mart
- Bought
- Mar 1, 2007, about then
- Where
- Grove City, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Aug 6, 2013, sent to the company Aug 13, 2013, published by CPSC Aug 27, 2013
The product, in the report: Kenmore Elite HE5 electric clothes dryer. 240v red cabinet color.
**this is an identical incident that I reported in July of 2009** I have a copy of that report
Heating element wire failed, causing a short circuit. There is no apparent safety device to cut 240v power to unit, subsequently the whole unit became live. Victim experienced electrical shock touching the control panel. Injuries were minor, but potentially product could have a lethal flaw if similar problems occur in households with small children or if users are not proficient in electrical safety. I have saved the flawed element (which incidentally was cracked and warped from the heat).
- Model
- Model 110.87089601 /
HE5 electric clothes dryer - Serial number
- MU2512660
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Jul 2, 2007, about then
- Where
- Morrison, Colorado: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 12, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore Elite, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Jul 28, 2013, sent to the company Aug 5, 2013, published by CPSC Aug 19, 2013
The product, in the report: Kenmore Elite Steam Dryer
Although no one has been injured, property has been destroyed. The problem also creates a fire hazard.
Over two years ago we purchased a Kenmore Elite Steam Dryer. Within the first year an item of clothing got snagged on the right handle of the lint filter. After that the filter frame did not properly fit and other items of clothing were snagged, usually belt loops and pockets.
I purchased a new filter. Before replacing it I thoroughly cleaned out the bottom of the lint catcher so it would fit properly. Despite my best efforts the same thing occurred. Several items were twisted and ruined. The pocket on a shirt was ripped. A pair of sweatpants became unwearable when the waist cord was ripped out.
This seems to be a common problem. http://mythreecents.com/showReview.cgi?id=105449
Because the filter does not fit properly I regularly clean out the lint catcher because lint accumulates at the bottom. Otherwise it would be a serious fire hazard.
Since other owners have the same problem I wonder if there have been any fires caused by the lint accumulated due to the improperly fitting filter.
- Model
- Kenmore Elite Steam Dryer
- Serial number
- 796 9172800
- Bought from
- Sears, New Jersey
- Where
- Maplewood, New Jersey: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 44, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore Elite, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 21, 2013, sent to the company May 31, 2013, published by CPSC Jun 14, 2013
The product, in the report: Kenmore Electric Clothes Dryer
Our Kenmore electric dryer caught on fire and filled the house up with smoke. If we were not at home when this happened it could have been a massive fire. The dryer was purchased new from Sears in Chandler, AZ. Model # is 796 80272900 and the Serial number is 911KWFN00771. We are the only owners of the dryer. It has never been worked on since there were no issues with it until now. We turned on the dryer and smoke began coming out of the front and the back sides. After turning it off, smoke continued and got worse. I quickly removed the dryer from the washroom through the garage and out on the drive way. The two plastic access panels on the bottom back were on fire and melting. I sprayed water inside the dryer to put out the fire. Looking through the access panels showed that the inside of the dryer where the motor, heating elements and other mechanical components are located was full and packed with lint. The hot air return was clear of lint. It is apparent that the design is defective or was not assembled correctly to allow such dangerous lint build up outside of the lint catcher and the hot air return and in and around the heating element, wiring and mechanical components. See pictures.
- Model
- 796 80272900
- Serial number
- 911KWFN00771
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Oct 14, 2009
- Where
- Gilbert, Arizona: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 56, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 7, 2013, sent to the company May 24, 2013, published by CPSC Jun 10, 2013
The product, in the report: electric dryer
The consumer stated that the instructions for the Sears Kenmore dryer indicates that you take a hot wire and connect it to the metal case of the dryer. He considers this to be unsafe. He also has the instruction booklet that shows the hazard.
There has an been an incident per [REDACTED]. The person to call for the information is [REDACTED] with NBK Electrical LLC His telephone is [REDACTED]. His email address is [REDACTED].
- Model
- P/
N W10097003A - Where
- Unspecified: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Apr 30, 2013, sent to the company May 30, 2013, published by CPSC Jun 13, 2013
The product, in the report: Electric Dryer
Electric Dryer fire April 29th, 2013. Caller contacted the manufacturer on April 29th, 2013 who sent tech out to home April 30th, 2013 who left with diagnosis that dryer is totally fried unless major parts are replaced. Parts have been ordered to replace those destroyed by fire. Caller loaded the dryer, set to medium and had been running possibly twenty minutes when the caller passed the unit, smelled a very strong odor of plastic and wiring burning. She immediately walked to the dryer, tried to turn it off but could not so she pulled the plug. She will have breakers checked also due to this excessive burning not causing the breaker to trigger a shut down. There were no injuries. Caller is reporting this incident as a severe fire hazard to alert the public and to encourage the manufacturer to recall this unit before there is major property or physical harm suffered.
- Model
- 11085872401
- Serial number
- MT2513981
- Bought from
- Sears, Minnesota
- Bought
- Jun 15, 2010, about then
- Where
- Minneapolis, Minnesota: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore/
Whirlpool, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation - How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Feb 19, 2013, sent to the company Mar 13, 2013, published by CPSC Mar 27, 2013
The product, in the report: Kenmore Electric Front Load Electric Dryer
Kenmore Dryer Model Number 417.88042700 Top of cabinet gets so hot as to cause skin burn if you touch it. Will melt plastic too.
I did search did not find any recalls and also sent email to Sears customer service regarding same and got no reply.
- Model
- 417.88042700
- Bought from
- Sears Outlet
- Bought
- Feb 6, 2007, about then
- Where
- Ruskin, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 69, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Dec 29, 2012, sent to the company Jan 16, 2013, published by CPSC Jan 31, 2013
The product, in the report: Kenmore dryer model #88042
While standing at the backdoor, I saw a fire explosion in my dryer towards the top of the dryer. It did a fire like explosion there and then towards the front of the dryer door. The lights flicked and then smoke began pouring out of the dryer. My husband pulled the dryer out of the laundry room and onto the backporch. He unscrewed the top lid and smoke came pouring out of it. We have found the source of the fire, a faulty plastic box, where all the wires connect to it If we were not home, the house would have caught on fire. The house smelt so bad and we had to air it out.
- Model
- 417.88042700
- Serial number
- XD84511387
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Dec 12, 2009
- Where
- Spriingfield, Oregon: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 36, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Nov 4, 2012, sent to the company Nov 14, 2012, published by CPSC Nov 29, 2012
The product, in the report: Clothes Dryer
Dryer cycle ended and clothes were removed. Closed dryer door and left house for 2 hours. When we cam home the dryer had started on its own and had been running for an unknown amount of time. This is an ongoing problem and after researching the internet we found numerous other buyers of the same product are having the exact same problem. There is obviously an electronic malfunction that could cause a serious fire.
- Model
- 110.67082600
- Serial number
- MT0901570
- Bought from
- Sears, Ohio
- Bought
- Nov 4, 2009, about then
- Where
- Spring Valley, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 62, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Oct 15, 2012, sent to the company Oct 23, 2012, published by CPSC Nov 6, 2012
The product, in the report: White Kenmore Elite Electric Dryer
Kenmore Elite Oasis Electric Dryer caught fire and cloths burnt inside of dryer.... No lent and pipes are clean. fire was in the drum... had a service recall on washer and they replaced a board on the dryer for potential problems in the board. about 2 years ago. Called sears 10/15/12 at 10:12am est. Sorry no recalls and no warranty... I had to remove my grandkids from the house on sat. 10/13/12 because of all the smoke and got everyone out of the house. Open the door to the dryer and sprayed with an fire ext. and then drug dryer out of the house... Thank God I was home, or my house would have burnt to the ground. The dryer had completed its cycle for over 2 hours before this happen... ? My opinion the element had to stay on and cause the drum to get hot and then catch the towles on fire. The drum is burnt bad on the bottom. I work on cars for a living and I am a very technical guy... I know it was caused by the board which sears-whirlpool has a problem with these boards that can cause the element to stay on....
- Model
- 110.67052600
- Serial number
- MT4404200
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Jan 25, 2007
- Where
- Dresden, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 43, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore Elite, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
Not said Made Sep 6, 2012, sent to the company Sep 14, 2012, published by CPSC Sep 28, 2012
The product, in the report: kenmore 800 electric white clothes dryer. model number 110.69822801 serial number MY1406285 bought in 2009 at a Sears store.
On Friday August 31 2012 my babysitter put a load of clothes in the dryer to dry. Within 5 minutes the dryer was making a strange dryer buzzing noise. She came into the room where the dryer is located and discovered fire shooting out the top console of the dryer around the auto moisture setting dial, ad buzzer dial and a hole with flames shooting out between the dials. She has able to get the fire out and I immediately after and unplugged the dryer. I notified Sears where I bought the dryer. The technician on the phone was surprised when I said the fire was on the top front part of the dryer and not near the lint area or back. He felt the dryer was not repairable but would send a technician out to check. The dryer is a kenmore electric dryer model number 110.69822801 serial number MY1406285. On Wednesday September 5, 2012 a technician from Sears came out and agreed the dryer was gone and not worth repairing. His bosses however feel it should be repaired. I do not feel comfortable repairing this dryer since they are not sure what caused the fire to begin with. There were no injures just alot of smoke burned dryer.
- Model
- 110.69822801
- Serial number
- MY1406285
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Jun 3, 2009, about then
- Where
- Mason, Michigan: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand kenmore clothes dryer, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
-
No one hurt Made Jun 13, 2012, sent to the company Jun 20, 2012, published by CPSC Jul 5, 2012
The product, in the report: Electric clothes dryer purchased new nine years ago
After placing a load of wet laundry in my 9 year old Kenmore electric clothes dryer and turning it on I began to smell a burning odor. I went into the hallway and within 2-3 minutes my smoke alarm went off. I went back into the laundry room and stopped the dryer. When my husband took the dryer apart (removed the top and back) we found a thick layer of lint inside including burnt lint on the heating coils. We were shocked because we have always cleaned the lint screen and hoses. Recently we had replaced the coiled hoses for smooth metal ones. We even found money inside the dryer chassis. If I had not been home we would have had a major fire and lost everything!
- Model
- Model #110.84836201 Kenmore Elite
- Serial number
- MP4709116
- Bought from
- Sears
- Where
- Millville, New Jersey: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 60, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Apr 13, 2012, sent to the company Jun 5, 2012, published by CPSC Jun 19, 2012
The product, in the report: Electric Dryer
The consumer says his dryer was running but not putting out heat to dry the clothes. The consumer called a repairman who showed him the board was melted and burned. The consumer feels fortunate that there was not a fire in the home because of it. The repairman ordered a new board and parts for replacement. He says the power chord where it hooks on to the board are also burned and melted.
- Model
- 110.69622800
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Apr 15, 2009, about then
- Where
- South Hadley, Massachusetts: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jan 30, 2012, sent to the company Feb 7, 2012, published by CPSC Feb 22, 2012
The product, in the report: Kenmore Elite, Electric Clothes Dryer, Model #796.81022900
My lint trap filter was not fitting into my dryer properly. This bugs me because I know how important it is in keeping lint from entering the duct and causing a fire. I always clean out my lint trap filter. I decided to take a look at the hang up. Upon inspection I noticed that some lint had passed by the filter (I did not know how) and got caught on a plastic cross piece. It seemed to be caught on this one piece because of the close proximity to the outside housing. The buildup of lint was preventing the filter from fitting all the way into the filter housing. I went to clean it out and could not get it all out. I decided to remove the housing that holds the lint trap. Upon removal it appeared that lint had been passing by the filter for some time. The design of the lint trap housing did not seal and exhaust air leaks around it. This allows a large amount of lint to slip by from what I found. My dryer was installed May 2011. Not even a year old and already a large lint build up. This seems to me that it could be a big fire hazard (I wonder if some dryer fires caused by excess lint passing by have been caused by this already) and should be addressed.
- Model
- Kenmore Elite 796.81022900
- UPC
- Unknown
- Serial number
- 010kwuc00254
- Bought from
- Great Indoors
- Bought
- May 1, 2011, about then
- Where
- Newark, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Dec 9, 2011, sent to the company Dec 19, 2011, published by CPSC Jan 4, 2012
The product, in the report: white electric clothes dryer
Kenmore Series 20 Electric Clothes Dryer. Fire contained to dryer drum. Heat setting NORMAL. Drying small load of two dish towels, 12 handkerchiefs. Lint trap cleaned before each use. Checked venting system at the dryer and at exit of house. Lint trap had begun to burn and side plastic fitting was beginning to melt.
- Model
- Kenmore Series 20
- Bought from
- Sears
- Where
- Auburn, Washington: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jul 21, 2011, published by CPSC Aug 12, 2011
The product, in the report: sears kenmore elite oasis electric dryer,
clothes dryer began to smell like it was burning, smoke noted. several days later opened dryer and it was full of burnt lint. kenmore elite oasis 110.67082600
- Model
- 110.67082600
- Serial number
- mt1907068
- Bought from
- sears, Texas
- Bought
- May 30, 2006
- Where
- Spring, Texas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand kenmore elite, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, care not known Made Apr 18, 2011, published by CPSC Jun 15, 2011
The product, in the report: Kenmore Clothes Dryer
Consumer wanted to report that she was trying to start her dryer and immediately she got shocked for a slight second. She was unable to remove her finger from the unit so she couldn’t remmove right away. She feels that she was able to move her finger because there was no more electricity at that button. However, the dryer continued to operate. This has occurred twice so far. The dryer was set to normal cycle in both incidents. She has yet to call the manufacturer or the retailer. Their is no charring, burning or odor coming from the unit. She felt it was imperative to report this incident to the CPSC.
- Bought from
- Sears, Illinois
- Bought
- Mar 15, 2011, about then
- Where
- Tinley Park, Illinois: Unspecified
- Who was involved
- Age 43, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kenmore, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
-
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.