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- May 2012
- Recall of Dehumidifiers Manufactured and Imported by Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd. (Currently Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.) (Replacement)
Joint Release with the Consumer Affairs AgencyRecall of Dehumidifiers Manufactured and Imported by Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd. (Currently Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.) (Replacement)
Serious product accidents have occurred in models of dehumidifiers manufactured and imported by Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as the "company") (currently Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.), causing the products to ignite.
The cause of these accidents is thought to be that part of the heater coil in the products detached from the coil holder and came into contact with the dehumidifier rotor cover resin near the holder, resulting in ignition.
To prevent any further accidents, the company and Panasonic Corporation have issued a press release today to let consumers know that they will replace the products.
The Consumer Affairs Agency has announced three accidents in total related to the product as serious product accidents, in accordance with Article 35(1) of the Consumer Products Safety Act (Control No. A200801386, A201101099, A201101162).
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) would like to ask consumers who possess the products to stop using them and have them replaced so as to prevent any further accidents.
1. Nature of the accident and recurrence-prevention measures
1) Nature of the accident
Three serious product accidents causing the products to ignite have occurred in dehumidifiers manufactured and imported by Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as the "company") (currently Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.), and were reported to METI in accordance with Article 35(1) of the Consumer Products Safety Act (Control No. A200801386, A201101099, A201101162).
No individuals were harmed in these accidents.
The cause of these accidents is thought to be that part of the heater coil in the products detached from the coil holder and came into contact with the dehumidifier rotor cover resin near the holder, resulting in ignition.
2) Recurrence prevention-measures
To prevent any further accidents, the company and Panasonic Corporation have issued a press release and have posted information on their website today announcing a product replacement, and will also publish an announcement in the newspaper on May 25, 2012, send letters to registered owners of the products, and put up posters at stores, from May 25, 2012 onward, asking owners to stop using the products and to have the products replaced.
2. Recalled products: product name, manufacture and import dates, quantity and appearance
1) Product name and other data of the recalled products
| Product names | Manufacture and import dates | Manufacturers, importers and retailers | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid-type dehumidifiers F-YHA100 | December 2004 -August 2005 |
Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd. (currently Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.) | 33,411 |
| Hybrid-type dehumidifiers F-YHB100 | February 2006 -January 2007 |
41,527 | |
| Total | 74,938 | ||
2) Appearance
Appearance of the product
How to check the model number
3) Actions by the company
The companies will replace the products for free.
4) Notice by the company
- Press release:
- Thursday, May 24, 2012
- Website:
- Thursday, May 24, 2012
- Newspaper:
- Friday, May 25, 2012 (morning edition)
- Mailing registered owners:
- Friday, May 25, 2012 onward
- Putting up posters at stores:
- Friday, May 25, 2012 onward
5) Alert to consumers
Anyone who owns any of the above products should immediately stop using them and quickly contact the company at the address below:
6) Contact
Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd. and Panasonic Corporation
- Telephone:
- 0120-228-285 (toll-free)
- Service hours:
- 7:00 to 23:00 (everyday until June 23, 2012); 9:00 to 21:00 (Mondays to Saturdays, except holidays, from June 24, 2012)
- Website:
- http://panasonic.co.jp/es/peses/info/important/12052401.html
(in Japanese)
Release Date
May 24, 2012
Division in Charge
Product Accident Information and Analysis Office, Product Safety Division, Commerce and Distribution Policy Group