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- March 2013
- Recall of Induction Cookers Manufactured by Hitachi Hometech (Currently Hitachi Appliances, Inc.) (Free Component Replacement)
Joint Press Release with the Consumer Affairs AgencyRecall of Induction Cookers Manufactured by Hitachi Hometech (Currently Hitachi Appliances, Inc.) (Free Component Replacement)
Serious product accidents have occurred in induction cookers manufactured by Hitachi Home Tech (Currently Hitachi Appliances), causing the components inside the products to ignite.
These accidents were announced as serious product accidents on August 24, September 4, and November 20, 2012, in accordance with Article 35 (1) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, which concerns accidents of unclear origin in a product other than a gas or oil appliance (Control Nos. A201200368, A201200397, and A201200609).
The cause of the accidents is now under investigation, but it is thought that a defective film condenser on the nose filter substrate deteriorated due to long-term use, causing the products in question to overheat and emit smoke.
To prevent further accidents, Hitachi Appliances will replace the components of the products subject to the recall from March 5, 2013, free of charge.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) encourages consumers who have purchased the products in question to make use of the manufacturer's free replacement service in order to prevent any further accidents
1. Nature of the accident and recurrence-prevention measures
1) Nature of the accident
Four serious product accidents occurred in induction cookers manufactured by Hitachi Hometech (currently Hitachi Appliances, Inc.), causing the components inside the products to ignite. These accidents were reported to METI as serious product accidents in accordance with Article 35 (1) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (Control Nos. A201100350, A201200368, A201200397, and A201200609). Upon completion of the investigation for the serious product accident which occurred on August 6, 2011 (Control No. A201100350) it was discovered that a defective component of the film condenser caused the accident. This has previously been announced. In addition, two similar accidents in which the product did not catch fire were reported to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE).
No injuries have occurred as a result of the six accidents.
The cause of the accidents is now under investigation, but it is thought that a defective film condenser on the nose filter substrate deteriorated due to long-term use, causing the products in question to overheat and emit smoke.
2) Recurrence-prevention measures
To prevent further accidents, Hitachi Appliances issued a press release on March 5, 2013. At the same time, the company posted further information on its website, and sent notices to known purchasers of the recalled products urging them to replace the component of the products free of charge.
2. Products to be recalled: Product name, manufacturer name, product number, manufacture period, quantity of products, appearance, and model number verification
1) Product name, manufacturer name, product number, manufacture period, and quantity of the products
| Product name (brand name) | Product number | Manufacture period | Quantity of products sold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IH Cookers | Hitachi Home Tech (currently Hitachi Appliances) | HTC-MA4 | 1993-1997 | 2,799 |
| HTC-MB4 | 1995-2001 | 6,340 | ||
| HTC-MC4 | 1999 | 562 | ||
| HTW-4DA | 1999-2001 | 6,221 | ||
| HTW-4DAS | 2000 | 155 | ||
| HTW-4SA | 1999-2001 | 8,278 | ||
| Kyushu Henatsuki Kabushiki Gaisha (currently Kyuhen Co., Inc.) | HTW4DA-Y | 2000 | 265 | |
| HTW4SA-Y | 2000 | 79 | ||
| Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. | CHCB3H1 | 1999-2001 | 1,280 | |
| CHCB3S1 | 1999-2001 | 560 | ||
| Total | 26,539 | |||
2) Appearance of the products and model number verification
Type of product: HTC-MA4
Type of product: HTC-MB4
Type of product: HTW-4DA
3. Actions by the company
The company will replace the component free of charge.
4. Notice by the company
- Press release:
- Tuesday, March 5, 2013
- Website announcement:
- Tuesday, March 5, 2013
- Sending notice to product owners:
- Tuesday, March 5, 2013, onward
- Requesting cooperation from retailers:
- Tuesday, March 5, 2013, onward
5. Alert to consumers
Anyone who has purchased any of the above products should immediately contact the company as below:
6. Contact office of the products to be recalled
- Telephone:
- 0120-572-882 (toll-free)
- Service hours:
- 9:00-19:00 (every day until Sunday, March 31, 2013)
- 9:00-17:00 (from Monday, April 1, 2013, except Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the company's holidays, including year-end and New-Year, and summer holidays)
- Website:
- http://kadenfan.hitachi.co.jp/ht/index.html
(in Japanese)
Release Date
March 5, 2013
Division in Charge
Product Accident Information and Analysis Office, Product Safety Division, Distribution and Industrial Safety Policy Group