Recall: Bosch and Siemens Model Dishwashers by BSH Home Appliances Corporation Due to Fire Hazard
Name of Product: Bosch® and Siemens® Model Dishwashers
Units: About 476,500
Manufacturer: BSH Home Appliances Corp., of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Hazard: An electrical component in certain model dishwashers can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: BSH Home Appliances has received 51 reports of incidents, including 30 reports of fires resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves certain Bosch® and Siemens® dishwashers manufactured from May 1999 through July 2005. The brand name is printed on the dishwasher’s front control panel. Model and serials numbers are located inside the dishwasher door panel on the upper right side.
| Brand | Model Numbers Must Begin With | Serial Numbers Must Begin With |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | SHE43C, SHE44C SHE46C, SHE56C SHU33 SHU42 SHU432 SHU43C, SHU53A |
FD8503 – FD8507 FD8501 – FD8505 FD7905 – FD8505 FD8407 – FD8505 FD8004 – FD8211 FD8205 – FD8507 |
| Siemens | SL34A | FD8308 – FD8505 |
Sold at: Appliance and specialty retailers nationwide from May 1999 through December 2006 for between $550 and $1,100.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the listed model dishwashers and contact the repair hotline for a free repair.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the BSH Home Appliances at (800) 856-9226 anytime or visit the brand’s Web site at www.boschappliances.com or www.siemens-home.com
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Ref Dishwasher problem
My Bosch Dishwasher Model number begins with SHU33, but serial number is FD8304. As I read info you published on internet, I am OK, but want to double check. If I do fall into category of Dishwasher needing repair, could you please send Hotline number.
Thanks
The number is (800) 856-9226 and can be found in the notice above. I suggest you call and double check – it can’t hurt to ask!
I was wondering my Bosch overheated and started burning, I kept the wire that melted, I do not know what my model number is my bosch is a 2006 model, it has not buttons on front, just the top hidden super quite, I am concerned now, my husband took the burned pieces out – what should we do?
for Nash your dishwasher is under the recall list. give em a call.
for Sandy im sure your dishwasher is fine, was it a power wire behind the toe kick on the right side of the bottem of the dishwasher that burnt? it could have been from installation why that wire was burnt. if someone came out and fixed it then im sure your fine.
DO NOT LET SEARS TOUCH YOUR BOSCH DISHWASHER! Tech had no training, only HS diploma. Never worked on Bosch dishwashers and knew nothing about the recall. He broke my perfectly working machine. Now I’m trying to get another company to come in and repair the mess Sears made. I’d rather have the house burn down. My dishwasher is loaded with 1/2 cleaned dishes and my sink is filled up. Now I have to wash by hand.
This list is not complete. Call (800) 856-9226 to make sure your dishwasher isn’t on the recall. Mine was not listed here but was still part of the recall.
I definitely recommend calling. I spoke to a representative at the dishwasher hotline who informed me that both the model and serial numbers must be affected and that it is worthwhile to call and check.
My model # is SHU33AO2UC/22, does this fall under the recall? I live in Bend, Oregon, if I need repair, please advise of a person. thanks.
My Bosch number is SHE45M06UC – is thee a Recall on this model?
I will call the number to verify it also. Thank you
Just finished replacing the kitchen.. Damages paid by insurance> How much should I sue them for grief…
I knew everything went to smooth when I made the recall call. The part came in on time and the appt was scheduled quickly. Now here I sit— for over an hour while the Sears repairman tries to get technical assistance from Bosch over the phone. Apparently the wrong board was sent to us for replacement. My dishwasher was working fine before he touched it. I sure hope it does when he leaves! Looks like we will have to try repair/replacement again next week. So I’ll have to leave work AGAIN!
Bosch is impossible to deal with they sent the wrong P/N for our dishwasher, sears could not get it to work. Every time we call Bosch they tell us it will be shipped next day UPS. They have said the same thin every week for three weeks. Bosch has no customer service they lie when you call and refuse to provide any reasonable answer. the problem is not with Sears it is Bosch.
I have tried to contact the Seimens company using the phone number 800-856-9226 and am told that a $5.79 charge will show up on my bill for this call and then they give me a 702-555-1212 number to call. Anyone Ever try to get on the Seimens-home.com web site. I also can’t seem to do that. Actually began to wonder if this was a hoax. How can I get a hold of someone to fix this issue?
You might need to allow cookies before the site will load. The toll free number you listed works fine, but someone was joking with you, because the other number is for time. You might have just miss-dialed. Also there is no charge for the 800 call.
I was just going to turn our dishwasher on…SHU33A 06UC/22
FD8512 00362
Is this one OK!
Thanks you.
I recommend using the 800 (toll free) number – (800) 856-9226 to call and check with the company, your numbers are a close match.
I have waited since February 13th for someone to come and replace the defective board in my dishwasher. Is someone starting a class action suit on this? They sent me a second safety notice instead of repairs. They knew the number of these products made with these defective parts but can’t produce replacements. This is just another Maytag Neptune debacle in the making and they know it. I want a replacement dishwasher NOW!
I just had the control unit replaced in my bosch 4326 dishwasher (purchased in 2002) as part of the recall. Since it’s been replaced, the timer countdown is inconsistent. Sometimes the econo wash starts with 39 minutes, the next time it’s 55 minutes. Same with the regular wash, could be 104 or 95 or 98. This dishwasher cycles always started with the same countdown time prior to replacing the unit. Is this normal? Anyone else seeing this?
When I read about this recall in Consumer Reports, I went to the Bosch website as recommended. Surprisingly, there was nothing on their site about this recall at all! I guess Bosch is afraid of scaring away future customers. Thanks to Consumer Reports and Appliance.net for providing valuable information regarding this recall that is lacking on the manufacturer’s own web site.
This has been a nightmare – and we didn’t even have a fire. The new control panel doesn’t work with our machine. (We bought the dishwasher in ‘03 and for five years it was perfect!) So far we’ve had 4 new boards, 3 different repair men and 2 of them from Bosch. They’re baffled. Meanwhile, I put the old control panel back in and it works fine. The new panel doesn’t allow enough water into the machine resulting in unclean dishes and a detergent tablet that doesn’t dissolve. Also it starts at 105, while the old board starts at 122 for regular wash. At one point the Sears guy told me to open the dishwasher and add water to it myself. (Sears, gotta love’em.) On the phone, one Bosch technician told me to run it for a week or so and the timer will self-correct, allowing more water into the machine. Really? How does it know the dishes aren’t clean? I mean, if the machine is that smart, why would it burn itself to begin with? The last Bosch guy that came (April 9) ran the machine with both control panels and saw the difference – not enough water with the new panel – but had no idea why this was happening. Has ANYONE else had this problem? Out of 500 thousand recalls I can’t believe I’m the only one. If I am, I’m playing the lottery! And has anyone else heard about the “self-correcting” thing? And oh yeah, so I just spoke with Bosch today (April 23, 7 weeks after the first installation of the new board) and they’re going to send out a “head technician” this time. I guess the other 2 guys were just torsos and legs.
I thought Bosch is a well known brand name with great performance, and I was wrong. I bought my dishwasher in 2004. In January 2009, there was a recall notice for Bosch dishwashers, and those models were on the market from 1999 to 2005, due to fire harzard. I have to stop using it. I made my first call in early Feb, opened up my file, and set up an appointment for a technician to come in to replace the failure parts. A technician came to my home on Mar 2, but with a wrong part. The technician then placed an order for a correct part, and I was told that it would take about couple weeks. I called again in late March, a representative told me that they expected the part will be arrived in the first week of April……called again in 2nd week of April, didn’t mention about the availability of the part, and set up an appointment for me for April 24, for a technician to go to my place. I called on April 22, to reconfirm the appointment. Until the evening of April 23, I got a message on my phone, said the appointment is cancelled as the part hasn’t been arrived yet. When I called back, the representative cannot guarantee when the part will be available……this recall service is very unacceptable. I have an impression that this “well known brand name” company, is hoping that clients like me, keep getting frustrated, and eventually will give up waiting for the recall service and just go out and spend their own money to buy a new dishwasher. THIS IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE! THE AFTER SALE SERVICE IS UNACCEPTABLE! Why do we have to pay more to buy a BOSCH dishwasher, if we only expect to have it work for less than 5 years. Just go for a cheap one, why waste our money on nothing, just because of their “name”.
We called over a month ago. Bosch gave us two numbers for repair shops. One had a full answering machine and we couldn’t leave a message. We were able to leave a message at the second, but they never called back. We called again. Now, a month later, they say the holdup is Bosch not sending the part.
We called Bosch, who said they would call back. We called Bosch again when we did not hear for them – the lady said “oh, I forgot I was supposed to call you”. ?? Bosch says the service company only ordered the part three days ago. We explained the poor experience with the recall service companies. The Bosch service rep said “oh”. ?? Wow.
The Bosch dishwasher came with the house we bought. after this, I wouldn’t spend my own money on one. We’ve been running the dishwasher before we got to bed and then turning it off as a safety precaution. If we had actually gone the last month without a dishwasher, my wife would probably not let me back into the house without someone from Bosch’s nads in my hands.
Our 2 year old dishwasher stopped working 2 months ago. The Bosch service tech came to our house and found the wires in the junction box were melted. He said that the installation had been done incorrectly and that he would install it properly this time so we wouldn’t have the problem again. 1 month later, we had a fire under the dishwasher coming from that same junction box. Luckily, my husband and I were in the kitchen when it happened and we had a fire extinguisher handy.
Bosch service made me wait a week for a technician to come to my house and perform the same service. When asked if he could explain why I had a fire, he said no. He also said that he couldn’t promise me that it wouldn’t happen again. Bosch claims that they have fixed my problem and refuse to do anything else. I’m afraid to run my dishwasher unless I’m in the same room with it.
My serial number indicates that my dishwasher was manufactured in the same place at the same time as the ones on recall, but my model number is not on the recall.
Can anyone explain to me the nature of the fires on the recalled dishwashers? Does anyone have a suggestion that would help me to get an appropriate response from Bosch?
I got my recall notice. Called in teh number, got the part sent to my home. Called for an appointment to get the dishwasher repaired. The first time ( Sat. March 14th) and I received a call from the service confirming that I was home. After stating that I was home, I waited the enitre day for the repairman. Called a few times to make sure they were coming. Was told I was. Only to find out that someone called again ( while I was doing something else), did not leave any message and recorded tht I was not at home.
Rescheduled the next appointment was schedule for Sat., April 11th, this time no one called and no one showed. After calling a few times during the day I was told I was last on the list. Waited till after 7:30 pm. Is this a joke…? TJames
I started to replaced the control myself today, and found the wires would not plug into the new part. So I called the tech line- “We won’t help because your not a trained technician”.
I asked if they wanted to pay a tech to read the part number from the old board, or have me do it. A couple of min later a someone approved me reading the part number. A few min later, they said mine was not effected by the recall. Because my ser # was close they included it, to make sure all needing repair were done.
So FWIW, Bosch said my original control is ok! IF the wires don’t fit, have your tech give them the old boards part #.
Also my board did not match the ‘bad’ ones on the install sheet- my original one has an orange label- not white as listed for bad ones.
Does anyone have a story that their dishwasher was actually fixed?
My bosch kept tripping my circuit breaker. I cleaned out the machine and it went for almost a full cycle when I head a pop and smelled something burning. After seaching the net for causes I found that my model was under recall (never received any info from company re recall).
I just received the part and am on hold with Sears (was told I had to call them to replace part since this is where the machine was purchased) to set appt. Hopefully the tech I get will know what to do.
We almost lost our house today. Thankfully, my wife and children were in the house, upstairs, children just tucked into bed when the front panel of our dishwasher burst into flames, flames shooting out of it and molten plastic burning the floor. Fortunately I had just purchased fire extinguishers for the kitchen. My wife got the kids out of the house and was able to contain the fire. Big mess. Horrible stench.
We never received any recall notice.
Any positive advice on how to begin the process of recovery with Bosch?
Our Bosch dishwasher has always been extremely quiet which I like. That’s the reason I bought it. The recall included our model. The repair person has been here 5 (five) times to try to get the replacement panel to work right. It still does not work right. The quick wash with about 35 or 40 minutes was another feature that I used all the time and now the minimum time to wash on it will be 78 or 85 minutes. Bosch has royally messed up my dishwasher. I asked them for help in a replacement one and they said they couldn’t do it unless I had my receipt of purchase!! Geeeeshhhh!
my Bosch dishwasher ,all stainless in and out , after being used less than a year, wore its finish off the front panel and shows black smudges two and three inches across the top where the instrument panel is. Purchased AT lOEWS for close to a thousand dollars. Service said it was cosmetic and that was not covered. We are an older couple and wash few dishes a night .It is a quiet machine but does not wash as well as my old kitchen aide.Never buy Bosch products again. A brand new kitchen looks shabby !!!
Well, well, well. I smelled something in the kitchen that smelled like electrical burning. Couldn’t find it. Shortly thereafter, my 2006 Bosch diswasher quite in mid cycle. Thinking it was a clog or bad pump, I prepared to pull the DW out, only to discover that the electrical cord at the wall plug was obviously overheated and discolored. I found what so many others found: burnt wiring, melted wire nuts, and indications of serious heat in the galvanized electrical box.
My wife reminded me that she got the recall notice, called, and was told not to worry since ours is not on the “List.” (Hey, Bosch, let me help you add to your list!) — Paul
Part 2. After all the experiences I’ve seen here, I conclude that Bosch 1) doesn’t have a viable fix for the dishwashers, hence the delays, and repeated repairs that don’t work, 2) Bosch is overwhelmed with the recall response and (apparently) has been telling “stories” to get people to go away. It is interesting that on bosch-home.com they show model#SHE43P06UC, which looks exactly like my SHE44C06UC. Why can’t they put the parts from this unit in mine? How about just a replacement? I’ll even give them a credit for the time I used it! — Paul
My bosch stopped working the other day. I had a friend come look at it. when he opened it up, the wires were all burnt up. he cut the burnt parts off and told me to keep them. then i looked online and found out about the recall. I hope i can get someone out this week to fix it. but from what ive read, the problem never really gets fixed. I think they need to replace all of them free of charge. this dishwasher could have burned down our house or hurt my children. i wonder what they would do if that would have happened? come out to repair my dishwasher that caused all the problems?? They should be held responsible for all our grief!
I used to work for a call center that Bosch contracted to assist them during the recall, and I can attest that many of the problems I am seeing complained about on this page are the fault of customers, not the company. Customers should be glad that Bosch did the right thing and issued a voluntary recall without having to be coerced into it. Many companies let things go until a lawsuit or government agency forces them to make it right. Now, regarding some of the issues reported here…
First of all, the vast majority of incidents where the wrong part was sent are due to CUSTOMER INCOMPETENCE. In many cases, especially in the case of Sears customers for some reason, the callers would give us the EXAMPLE model number and serial number from the letter they received from Sears! No wonder the wrong part would be sent when we were provided inaccurate information! The script we were required to use specifically indicated WHERE on the dishwasher the customer should look for the Model and Serial Numbers, but quite a few never bothered to look.
Second of all, many customers DO NOT LISTEN when they call the hotline. Unless they bought their unit at Sears, BOSCH DOES NOT SEND THEM THE PART. They are given a Reference Number and one to three authorized repair services in their area, whom they can contact at their own convenience to arrange for a FREE repair. This way, they can work with the repair company to find a time that will work for them. Sears Customers are sent the part directly, and are advised to call a Sears hotline AFTER they receive the part to set up the repair. In RARE cases, for non-Sears customers in locations without a nearby repair service, Bosch would arrange for the repair directly. We had a lot of customers call back in wondering when they would be contacted about repairs when in fact THEY were supposed to contact their local repair service.
Third, to “Steve,” who claims the recall is not on Bosch’s website… Can you read? There’s a Safety Recall link right on the main page of the website, and it’s been on the site since day one. It was far more prominent initially, yes, but then again, it’s been eight months since the recall was started. Most affected customers have had their units repaired by now.
Fourth, to people who say they never received notice from Bosch: did you register your purchase with them? Bosch can’t contact customers they don’t know EXIST. Letters were sent to potentially affected customers whose products were registered with Bosch after purchase, and letters were also sent to customers of major retailers such as Sears who keep records of customers’ purchases and serial numbers and so forth. Beyond that, Bosch paid to have large advertisements placed multiple times in more than 2000 newspapers throughout the US and Canada. The recall was covered on TV, posted in retail locations, and detailed in other sources such as Consumer Reports and online. Bosch did everything it could conceivably do to contact customers about this issue.
IT’s true, there have been some issues, and some of them are Bosch and/or Sears’ fault. But the majority of the problems experienced while I was working on this recall were due to customers providing us with incorrect information. Bosch isn’t my favorite company in the world, but they gave this an honest effort.
I got an automated call today about this recall. I appreciate Bosch making an effort to fix this issue. I love our dishwasher and believe they make superior products. These things are designed by human engineers, so mistakes do happen. The important thing is to be responsive about it. Replacing boards on 500k machines is not an easy task to undertake.
I woke up one night smelling something burning, and found smoke coming from the door of our Bosch dishwasher. I pulled the circuit breaker and that was curtains for the Bosch. We were lucky. If we had started the wash cycle and gone out for the evening, our house could have burned down.
We did not report the incident, nor did we make a warranty claim. Rather we just bought a new (Kitchen Aid) dishwasher. The 51 incidents reported must be a small percentage of the failures.
I had the same burning/fire in the junction box, and my machine is not technically on the recall. Bosch at this stage is claiming it is improper installation. It’s been working fine for over three years, now it decides to catch on fire? I’ve experienced exactly what Gale D experienced. I can’t believe that everyone has their dishwasher installed wrong! Bosch refuses to step up to the plate and take care of these problems!
My BOSCH (SHV99A) also stopped working mid cycle. I opened up the junction box to see melted wires too. It was installed correctly and it’s been working for almost 5 years without a problem. How do we get them to recall the junction boxes on all these melting wires?
Interesting reading concerning this recall. This is the first I heard of it.
My machine was built in 1999 (around the beginning of the recalled batch) and worked flawlessly until mid-2007 when it stopped drying the dishes. I had a Bosch service company come look at it and the tech showed me an error code of 2H on the display, said it was a heater fault. Showed me 2 burned spots on the board and said “here’s the problem, they all do this”. He didn’t have a new board with him so told me he could get it working again by carefully soldering the connections in the burned area of the board. Problem solved until yesterday, two and a half years later. Now I have the same 2H error code and wet dishes.
His repair got me 2 more years out of the old board but now I wonder why the tech didn’t tell me about the recall, especially since he said “…they all do this”. I will dig up the repair receipt tonight when I get home and call them to see if they want to do the job right this time. I paid them once for a repair that should have been free, maybe they will stand up and do it for free this time.
Has anyone had any luck getting Bosch to respond to the control panel problems. Our dishwasher has had the control panel replaced twice but the dishwasher still doesn’t work. In addition, we have had numerous service calls and nothing seems to work.
Mar 1st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
[...] couple of weeks ago, we got a recall notice — something about a control panel that can overheat and pose a fire hazard. The letter, [...]