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- April 2012
- Recall of Refrigerators Manufactured by Sharp Corporation (Free Inspection/Parts Replacement)
Joint Release with the Consumer Affairs AgencyRecall of Refrigerators Manufactured by Sharp Corporation (Free Inspection/Parts Replacement)
A serious product accident has occurred in a model of refrigerator manufactured by Sharp Corporation, resulting in extensive damage, including fire damage to the surrounding area.
The cause of the accident is currently being investigated, but it is thought that the refrigerator overheated due to a quality differential between the components in the start relay (an electrical part that starts the refrigerator) used for starting the compressor, and that the resin parts used throughout the product caught fire, resulting in extensive damage, including fire damage to the surrounding area.
To prevent further accidents, Sharp Corporation is issuing a press release today to let consumers know that they will conduct inspections and replace the parts of certain refrigerators free of charge.
This accident was announced as a serious product accident on February 3, 2012, in accordance with Article 35(1) of the Consumer Products Safety Act, which relates to accidents of unclear origin in products other than gas and oil appliances (Control No.A201100916).
The Ministry of Economy, Technology and Industry (METI) would like to ask consumers possessing the products to have them inspected and replacement parts for free, so that any further accidents can be prevented.
1. Nature of the accident and recurrence prevention measures
1) Nature of the accident
A serious product accident resulting in fire damage to the surrounding area has occurred in a model of refrigerator manufactured by Sharp Corporation, and was reported to METI in accordance with Article 35(1) of the Consumer Products Safety Act (Control No.A201100916).
The cause of the accident is currently being investigated, but it is thought that the refrigerator overheated and broke down due to a variance in quality among the PTC elements of the start relay that is used to start the compressor of the product, so that the start relay began to smoke and caught fire, and that the fire spread to the resin parts used throughout the product.
Eleven similar serious product accidents in which the start relays began to smoke and caught fire, but in which the damage did not reach the extent of fire damage to the surrounding area, have been reported to the Consumer Affairs Agency in connection with Sharp refrigerators, and 14 similar accidents in which the product did not catch fire have been reported to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), an Independent Administrative Agency. The damage was not as extensive in these accidents because the cover of the relay was made of fire-retardant material or because the overload relay disconnected from the electrical supply. To prevent similar accidents, Sharp posted the relevant information on its website, and has started to visit individual consumers' homes to conduct inspections and replace the parts free of charge when a serious product accident occurred, resulting in extensive damage, and the company decided to issue a press release to announce a product recall so that it can conduct inspections and replace the parts free of charge.
2) Recurrence prevention measures
To prevent further accidents, Sharp has issued a press release today announcing a product recall, and will also publish an announcement in the newspaper on April 17, 2012; Sharp is keeping the announcement posted on its website, and will start inspection and replacement of their parts for free.
2. Recalled products: product name, model, manufacture period, quantity and appearance
1) Product name and other data on the recalled products (letters in brackets indicate the color code.)
| Product name | Model | Quantity | Serial Number | Manufacture period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerators | Sharp | SJ-350JB(-H) | 15,600 | All | Dec.1996- Mar. 2001 |
| SJ-E35KC(-H) | 26,300 | ||||
| SJ-EX357(-H) | 20,300 | ||||
| SJ-EX447(-H) | 29,700 | ||||
| SJ-V35WB(-H) | 3,400 | ||||
| SJ-V35WC(-H) | 4,500 | ||||
| SJ-W358D(-G/-H) | 6,500 | ||||
| SJ-W359D(-C/-H) | 10,200 | ||||
| SJ-W35A(-G/-H) | 73,380 | ||||
| SJ-W35B(-G/-H) | 74,920 | ||||
| SJ-WA35C(-C/-H) | 130,672 | ||||
| SJ-WE38A(-G/-H) | 68,245 | ||||
| SJ-WE44A(-G/-H) | 54,300 | ||||
| SJ-WH350(-C) | 8,400 | ||||
| SJ-WH380(-C) | 7,900 | ||||
| SJ-WJ440(-H) | 4,300 | ||||
| SJ-WS350(-H) | 1,700 | ||||
| SJ-E30B(-W) | 80,600 | 10010001-10019910 | |||
| SJ-E30B(-C) | 20010001-20059210 | ||||
| SJ-E30B(-H) | 30010001-30031480 | ||||
| SJ-23B(-H) | 48,780 | All | |||
| SJ-23D(-C/-H) | 60,373 | ||||
| SJ-S407(-H) | 5,500 | ||||
| Muji | SJ-R35C | 1,510 | |||
| 737,080 | |||||
2) Appearance and how to check
Example: SJ-WA35C-H
Note: Descriptive labeling on the inside door of the product is similar to one of those shown in this example.
3. Actions by the company
Sharp will check the products and replace the parts for free.
4. Notice by the company
- Press release:
- Monday, April 16, 2012
- Website:
- Monday, April 16, 2012 (second announcement)
- Newspaper:
- Tuesday, April 17, 2012 onward
- Distributing leaflets directly to households:
- Tuesday, April 17, 2012 onward
- Distributing leaflets directly to stores:
- Tuesday, April 17, 2012 onward
5. Alert to consumers
Anyone who owns the above products should immediately stop using them and quickly contact the company below:
6. Contact
- Telephone:
- 0120-404-511 (toll-free)
- Service hours:
- 9:00 to 18:00 (weekdays); 9:00 to 18:00 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
- Website:
- http://www.sharp.co.jp/
Release Date
April 16, 2012
Division in Charge
Product Accident Information and Analysis Office, Product Safety Division, Commerce and Distribution Policy Group