MAGIC CHEF refrigerators

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Jul 20, 2018 · , sent to the company Aug 7, 2018 · , published by CPSC Aug 21, 2018

   The product, in the report: MAGIC CHEF, OVER/UNDER FREEZER-REFRIGERATOR, MODEL # MCBR415S, THERE IS NO SERIAL NUMBER AVAILABLE, THIS IS AN APPROXIMATELY 4 CUBIC FOOT APPLIANCE MODEL WITH STAINLESS FRONT DOORS WITH BLACK SIDE PANELS. THE APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: DEPTH IS 17 INCHES, HEIGHT 4 FEET AND WIDTH 16 INCHES.

   THE UNSAFE INCIDENT WAS A FIRE. THE POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONSUMER PRODUCT IS A ‘MAGIC CHEF’ OVER/UNDER FREEZER-REFRIGERATOR DESIGNED WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A “FAULTY RELAY.” THE AREA OF INITIATION OF THE FIRE WAS WITHIN THE SUBJECT APPLIANCE (LOOKING AT THE BACK OF THE APPLIANCE), THE RELAY WAS LOCATED WHERE THE SUBJECT DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICALLY GROUNDED COMPRESSOR. THE UNSAFE FAILURE OF THE RELAY IS AT ISSUE. THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE RESIDENTIAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

   Model

   MCBR 415S

   Serial number

   UNKNOWN

   Where

   New York, New York: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand MAGIC CHEF, made or sold by CNA International, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

2. No one hurt

   Made Nov 23, 2014 · , sent to the company Dec 2, 2014 · , published by CPSC Dec 16, 2014

   The product, in the report: Magic Chef fridge

   Magic Chef fridge caught fire! I checked out online and seen that other models had recalls but not my model CTB1925GRW Serial 20628916EC had the same issue those recalled had. The switch that starts the compressor went up in smoke.

   Model

   CTB1925GRW

   Serial number

   20628916EC

   Bought from

   Rotabaugh Maytag

   Bought

   Feb 11, 2004, about then

   Where

   Millheim, Pennsylvania: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 40, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Magic Chef, made or sold by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

3. No one hurt

   Made Nov 29, 2011 · , sent to the company Dec 7, 2011 · , published by CPSC Dec 21, 2011

   The product, in the report: Magic Chef/Maytag Side by Side Frost Free Refrigerator with in-door ice and water dispenser. Model Number CSD2123AR

   On 11/23/2011 my Maytag/Magic Chef side-by-side refrigerator w/in-door water and ice dispenser started to shoot out water all over my kitchen floor. I moved the lever to the ice side to make it stop but ice started shooting out. Then it started to smoke from the panel and a flame came out and we could smell burning plastic. We pulled the unit away from the wall, unplugged it and shut off water supply. My husband removed the front panel of the dispenser unit and the inside was melted and still smoking. He disconnected the power to the dispenser. I went to this site to look up if our fridge had been recalled and found that millions had been recalled for the exact same problem, but our Model and Serial Number were not included in the recall--but obviously they should be now. I contacted Maytag and they said they would send out someone to “inspect” it but since it wasn’t under warranty all “repairs” are our responsibility. I don’t care about the money and let them know that this model now needs to be included in the previous recall. They didn’t seem to interested in doing that. If we were not home, our house could have burned down--we live in a rural area.

   Model

   MAGIC CHEF/ M # CSD2123AR

   Serial number

   12076164WZ

   Where

   CORINTH, Vermont: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand MAGIC CHEF, made or sold by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

4. No one hurt

   Made Sep 27, 2011 · , sent to the company Oct 5, 2011 · , published by CPSC Oct 20, 2011

   The product, in the report: Top Freezer Refrigerator

   All of the appliances I own are Whirlpool branded. I have chosen each product based upon consumer reports and the long-standing reputation of these brands. I depend upon the reliability and safety these products for my family and families that rent their housing from me. In a triplex I own, I had a Magic Chef refrigerator in the middle unit. This triplex is home to three young families, one of whom brought a baby home from the hospital last week. On Sunday, my tenant called to let me know that he came home to find his refrigerator on fire. Needless to say, he was alarmed and frightened but he was able to pull the refrigerator from the wall and unplug the unit which, luckily, extinguished the fire. A responsible landlord, I replaced the refrigerator immediately. Upon inspection of the damaged refrigerator, it is immediately apparent that the fire began in the relay that cycles the compressor on and off. In an internet search to find a new relay, I came across CSPS Recall # 09-322. The hazard prompting the recall is an electrical failure in this relay that can cause overheating with 23 reports of relay ignition. From the CSPC website: Description: The recall includes certain Maytag®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side-by-side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel. They have model and serial numbers printed on a label located on the top middle or left upper side of the refrigerator liner and have the following model and serial number combinations: Serial Numbers ENDING with AND Model Numbers BEGINNING with Side by Side Refrigerators CN, CP, YY, YZ MZ Top Freezer Refrigerators CA, CC, CE, CG, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH CT15G4, CTB152, CTL151, CTM152, CTN151, MTB195, MTB215, MTB245, MTF195, MTF215, PTB155, PTB175, PTB195, PTB215

   My model number is: CTL1511GEW My serial number is: 22887591CG

   As you can see from the highlighted portions, I thought I could safely assume that my refrigerator was part of the expanded recall. I called the recall hotline and was told that my refrigerator was NOT covered by the recall and that there was nothing that Maytag would do for me. I was not satisfied with this answer and asked to speak with the safety department. The customer service agent (I use this term loosely) was not only rude but defamatory towards my tenant, saying that it was hearsay that the refrigerator caught on fire. Further, she claimed that this refrigerator was not covered under the recall and the minimum she would do is send a technician over to see if it was the relay that caught on fire. If it was, they would review the claim but there would be no guarantee that they would fix it even if the relay was the ignition point of the fire.

   I find this completely unacceptable. There are three families that are in close proximity to this refrigerator. Had the tenant not come home when he did, the results could have been disastrous, families destroyed.

   I understand that products fail; this is a part of life. What I do not understand, is how Maytag is unwilling to fix the part recalled voluntarily by its own corporation. I did not ask for repair costs of the smoke damage. I did not ask for replacement of the food lost in the refrigerator. I only asked that the refrigerator be repaired.

   I have spent $600 to uphold the commitment I made to my tenants. It seems only fair that Whirlpool uphold is promise to consumers.

   Model

   CTL1511GEW

   Serial number

   22887591CG

   Where

   Albuquerque, New Mexico: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Magic Chef, made or sold by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

5. No one hurt

   Made Jul 26, 2011 · , published by CPSC Aug 16, 2011

   The product, in the report: top freezer refrigerator

   i just purchased yesterday top freezer 10 cu ft refrigerator made by apparently magic chef. we plugged in.. and within minutes the sides of refrigerator get so unbelievably hot that its dangerous. cannot keep it near anything... its so hot if you have small children and they touch it... it will burn!....i cannot understand how this product was NEVER recalled. i searched online and read several related complaints. Company... really did not care... they will send “someone” over at my expense... my issue... its DANGEROUS> SOMEONE SHOULD stop this asap ... i am afraid to keep it on and will return it asap. its Magic Chef model MBCR 1020W 10.0 cu ft capacity top freezer refrigerator

   Model

   MBCR 1020W

   UPC

   665679003358

   Bought from

   home depot, New Jersey

   Bought

   Jul 25, 2011

   Where

   old bridge, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand magic chef, made or sold by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources