Maytag Corp. has recalled about 2.3 million Maytag and Jenn-Air brand dishwashers. Liquid rinse-aid can leak from its dispenser and come into contact with the dishwasher’s internal wiring, which can short-circuit and ignite, which poses a fire hazard.

Maytag has received 135 reports of dishwasher fires, resulting in product and/or property damage. Four injuries have been reported, including three reports of smoke inhalation and one serious hand laceration when operating a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in the dishwasher.

The recall involves Maytag and Jenn-Air under counter or portable plastic tub dishwashers. The dishwashers have black, white, almond, bisque and stainless steel front panels.

The following model and serial numbers are printed on a label located on the dishwasher’s plastic frame on top of or to the left of the door opening. Consumers should contact Maytag to determine if their dishwasher is included in this recall.

BRAND	MODEL NUMBERS BEGIN WITH	SERIAL NUMBERS END WITH
Maytag	MDB3, MDB4, MDB5, MDB6, MDB7, MDB8, MDB9, MDBD, MDC3, MDC4, MDC5, DWU9	SM, SQ, SS, SU, SW, SY, SZ, UB, UD, UF, UH, UK, UM, UQ, US, UU, UW, UY, UZ, WB, WD, WF, WH, WK, WM, WQ, WS, WU, WW, WY, WZ, YB, YD, YF, YH, YK, YM, YQ, YS, YU, YW, YY, YZ
Jenn-Air	JDB3, JDB4, JDB5, JDB6,JDB7	UB, UD, UF, UH, UK, UM, UQ, US, UU, UW, UY, UZ, WB, WD, WF, WH, WK, WM, WQ, WS, WU, WW, WY, WZ, YB, YD, YF, YH, YK, YM, YQ, YS, YU, YW, YY, YZ

The dishwashers were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from July 1997 through June 2001 for between $370 and $800.

Consumers should immediately stop using these dishwashers, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it and inform all users of the dishwasher about the risk of fire. Contact Maytag for either a free in-home repair, or a $75 cash back reimbursement following the purchase of a new Maytag, Jenn-Air, Whirlpool or KitchenAid dishwasher.

Consumers should not return the dishwasher to the retailer where it was purchased, as retailers are not prepared to take units back.

For more information contact Maytag Corporation at 800-675-0535 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site.