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Whirlpool & Sears Kenmore & KitchenAid Dishwasher Class Action Lawsuit Complaint Filed Over Alleged Overheating Of Electronic Control Board

Kenmore, KitchenAid & Whirpool Dishwasher Purchasers File Class Action Lawsuit Complaint Against Sears And Whirlpool Over Allegedly Defective Dishwasher Electronic Control Boards That Allegedly Can Overheat, Smoke And/Or Catch On Fire.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Whirlpool Corporation (“Whirlpool”), Sears Holdings Corp, and Sears Roebuck & Co, Inc. (“”Sears”) (collectively “Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (styled Steve Chambers, Lynn Van Der Veer, David Brown, Bach-Tuyet Brown, Kevin O’Donnell, Joseph Cicchelli, Kurt Himler, Susan Milicia, Gary LeBlanc and James Cashman v. Whirlpool Corporation, Sears Holdings Corp, and Sears Roebuck & Co, Inc. et al Class Action Case No. CV11-1733), alleging, among other things, that Whirlpool & Sears designed, manufactured, advertised, marketed, and sold KitchenAid and Kennmore brand dishwashers that contained defective electronic control boards that can overheat causing the control board and Dishwasher components to melt, smoke and burst into flames, according to the Whirlpool & Sears Kenmore & KitchenAid Dishwasher electronic control board overheating class action lawsuit complaint.

The  Whirlpool & Sears Kenmore & KitchenAid Dishwasher electronic control board overheating class action lawsuit complaint is reportedly brought on behalf of a putative class consisting of the following persons, unless otherwise excluded:

All consumers in the United States that (a) purchased or otherwise acquired a KitchenAid or Kenmore-branded Dishwasher (b) primarily for family, or household purposes, and not for resale, and (c) its electronic control board overheated, smoked and/or caught on fire, and/or the Dishwasher experienced malfunction requiring replacement of the electronic control board.

All consumers  that (a) purchased a new Whirlpool-branded Dishwasher (b) primarily for family, or household purposes, and not for resale, and (c) its electronic control board overheated, smoked and/or caught on fire, and/or the Dishwasher experienced malfunction requiring replacement of the electronic control board; (d) within five years of purchase. (the “National Subclass”)

All consumers who (a) purchased a new KitchenAid or Kenmore-branded Dishwasher (b) primarily for family, or household purposes, and not for resale, and (c) its electronic control board overheated, smoked and/or caught on fire, and/or the Dishwasher experienced malfunction requiring replacement of the electronic control board. (the “California Subclass”)

The Whirlpool & Sears Kenmore & KitchenAid Dishwasher electronic control board overheating class action lawsuit complaint reportedly asserts claims for alleged violations of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, violations of unfair business practices act, fraudulent concealment, breach of implied warranty, breach of express warranty, strict products liability and failure to warn, unjust enrichment and negligence. 

If You Have Thoughts On The  Whirlpool & Sears Kenmore & KitchenAid Dishwasher Electronic Control Board Overheating Class Action Lawsuit, Share Your Class Action Comments Below.

{ 37 comments… add one }
  • JOANNE November 23, 2011, 3:10 pm

    Kitchaid; top model; ( stainless inside and out) never worked properly; controls replaced at least twice; motor replaced because it burned out. Never used more than once a week because dishes must be hand dried and control settings were unpredictable. (Bought at ABT in Chicago.) I have been told there is nothing that can be done.

    • wally November 25, 2012, 8:03 pm

      Have owned the kenmore dishwasher 1.5 years, it has been repaired 4 times. It broke the 5th time full of thanksgiving
      Dishes, we are done. Going to buy another Bosch, should have stayed with them in the first place!

  • michael December 5, 2011, 9:25 am

    came home just in the nick of time, to find our dishwasher board had stuck on and overheated the inside of the dishwasher, inspector stated that if we had not updated our counter tops to (corian) , previously, that this dishwasher that overheated would have set our countertop on fire, and probrably our house, we found the countertop so hot you could not touch it……….sears would not give me credit towards a new dishwasher and after much fighting they repaired and refunded for the labor……but would not replace the burned trays and rack inside the unit, to date my wife will not use this dishwasher, she cannot trust it, i am glad to see this moving forward

    • Doreen February 6, 2012, 7:47 pm

      My Kitchenaid dishwasher did catch on fire due to overheating. We lost our home and everything we own because of it. Please be careful, I would get rid of it if I were you.

  • William January 4, 2012, 10:44 am

    have the Kitchenaid top model SS in and out. Had to replace several parts several times, never dries the dishes, does not always clean the dishes and we basically wash them before they go in the dishwasher.
    Also have the microwave that need parts replacements at least 5 times and still does, now they say they will not replace any longer. Double oven has been replaced and I had to pay 1/2, and how same problem. bottom of oven is rusting. I will NEVER by these products again.

  • Beverly January 8, 2012, 7:06 am

    I just had my dishwasher repaired – I was very lucky, I was in the kitchen when it started to go haywire and I pulled the power. The company continues to sell the control panel even after the lawsuit has been filed, my repair date was 12/14/11.

  • Jennifer January 14, 2012, 4:20 pm

    I’ve had to ours repaired 5 times in one year for the same problems each time. Water does not get hot, does not clean, does not dry and sometimes will not turn off. A lady in my neighborhood, house burnt down due to the issues with her dishwasher. Do not run dishwasher unattended, better yet, wash by hand.

  • Kelley Brixey January 24, 2012, 7:35 pm

    Our Whirlpool dishwasher has burned out 2 electronic control boards in the last two years. After i pulled the front control panel off, i found that the electronic board had burnt out and had been extremly hot as it melted parts inside, and was all burned inside, had i not pulled the plug, it may have caught fire, and possibly burned down our house. Had we have known about the defect, we would have never replaced the 1st electronic board.

  • JT Barr January 29, 2012, 4:04 pm

    I hit this site as part of a search for Microwave+Whirlpool+ Class Action Suit.
    Given the large number of unfavorable reviews on other sites, I can only hope a class action suit against Whirlpool for their microwaves will be coming soon.

  • Tammy February 1, 2012, 11:17 am

    I have a Kenmore Dishwasher that was purchased in 2005 that almost caught on fire yesterday. Black smoke rolled out of the top right corner from the control panel and I saw an orange light behind control panel (fire). I found out about the recall online and it appeared according to my model # that my dishwasher had been recalled.
    I called Whirpool and they stated there was not a recall on my dishwasher according to the “serial number” apparently both the model and serial #’s have to match the recall.
    Apparently the dishwashers under the recall are newer than mine. I am wondering what would have happened if I would not have been home when this occured. The dishwasher wouldn’t even turn off and stop smoking until we flipped the breaker.
    I filed a complaint with the safety commission…. I have doubts about Sears or Kenmore taking appropriate action…very frustrating.
    My model# is 66517032401

  • Jim Dent February 2, 2012, 1:20 pm

    I purchased a Kenmore/Whirlpool Ultra Wash Dishwasher and it failed at 53 weeks on a 52 week (one year) warranty. Sears nor Whirlpool would provide any assistance. The control panel was bad. I had to replace the control panel 3 times in less than 18 months. I finally got so frustrated with the machine that I removed it and replaced it with a new Bosch dishwasher. The Bosch has been running flawlessly ever since.

  • andrea spano February 5, 2012, 1:04 pm

    I purchased a Kitchen Aid dishwasher product#KUDD03DTSSD, serial#F124005669, and mind you I only have this dishwasher for 4months..The most recent problem Im having is with part#PPE-GF30

  • andrea spano February 5, 2012, 1:19 pm

    Andrea,,
    I purchased a KITCHEN AID DISHWASHER, Product#KUDD03DTSSD, SERIAL#F124005669…Mind you I only have this dishwasher for 4 months only..The most recent problem im having is with PART#PPE-GF30, its a plastic filter part type that seems to have corroded on both my upper drawer and my bottom drawer..And also my top drawer in stuck in the lock mode & with my experience with KITCHEN AID in the past have to do with the control panel frying up, hopefully I am wrong,the dishwasher is only 4 months old…Also it doesnt clean the dishes, I put them in dirty and the come out the same way…At times it doesnt drain properly and the dishes dont dry and it builds up so much condensation that it drips out and im always moping a puddle up…I spent over $1000.oo on this product, and boy was it a waste of my hard earned money…I will never buy another KITCHEN AID product again…Also Kitchen Aid customer service department is completely useless…Im waiting to see how many repairmen it takes to fix this problem, if it can even be fixed..Not gonna hold my breathe…Another unsatisfied customer, Brentwood, NY

  • Angel February 27, 2012, 7:30 pm

    We bought a Kenmore dishwasher in 2004. Last night I started to smell smoke and heard hissing noises. I looked over and flames were coming out of the control panel.
    I contacted Sears today. They hardly seemed concerned about the fire. They were more interested in signing me up for a 230.00 warranty so they could come and fix it. They said if they couldn’t fix it they would give me a 500.00 Sears credit to purchase a new one. I told them that was okay I would never again purchase appliances from Sears. It would be worth it to not get the 500.00 and not be scared that my house would burn down.
    I normally start running it when I go to bed. For some reason I stayed up late last night and was still awake when it happened. I can just imagine what could have happened if it went on for longer than a few seconds and caught the hand towel near by. I ran over and shut it off quickly.
    The model number on mine is 665.16463300

  • Frank Mayer March 2, 2012, 1:10 pm

    Mine caught on fire back in December 2011. It took Sears three visists to replace the main control board. Last night it started to smoke again. I have a photo of the first fire, but the smoke was gone when I got the camera out for the one last night. How do I get included in this class action lawsuit?

  • jean March 4, 2012, 7:05 am

    I,ve got my dishwahse whirpool qyuit partner III 4 years go the problem start 2 years after and today I’ve my control board frying up mode GU3200XTPS1 this is the bad dishwasher i had it in my life

  • Dee dee martin March 5, 2012, 5:23 pm

    I have bought S S top of the line KITCHENAID. As well from ABT in Chicago. Electronic Controls burnt out within 6mo of using this.

  • wiliam mackey April 27, 2012, 11:46 am

    I have a kitchenaid wisper quiet modelkudi02cr bl1 does anyone know if this unit is under recall thank you

  • Jeff Spalding May 7, 2012, 2:47 pm

    Owned my Kitchen Aid for around 5 years. This morning control panel began to catch fire. Thankfully I was home to shut off the power to the dishwasher. Phone numbers I have been able to find so far are useless.
    Anyone been able to get any satisfaction from Whirlpool on this yet?

    Dishwasher Model KUDPO1ILBL3.

  • Joan Bedell May 14, 2012, 2:27 pm

    I have the top of the line kitchen aid dishwasher. Would someone please email me on how to be part of this class action law suit. I cannot get any answers for kitchen aid. I purchased my dishwasher in 2010. It is not right they have know about the dangers of this dishwasher and after so many fires and millions of dishwashers sold, the corporation has been allow to get by with this. Why can’t consumers be protected for the life threatening evils of corporations like this?

  • judy gervais May 23, 2012, 2:47 pm

    I purchased a brand new Kitchenaid dishwasher and I used it for about 2 weeks. One night I turned it on and went into my bedroom to change clothes, and I began to smell smoke and heard a shrill noise. I immediately went back to my kitchen and the dishwasher sounded like a bearing or something was screaching. It also smelled like smoke.
    I immediately shut it off, shut off the power supply at the electrical panel box for that line. I called Sears and they did not do anything.So then I called Kitchaid and a woman on the line wanted information and then she called Sears. The installer wanted to come back out to my house and start it up again, and I said no, as I had just completed remodeling of my kitchen with new cabinets, appliances and corian countertops. So the woman from Kitchenaid called me back and I toldher that I wanted it removed as I did not want my kitchen to catch on fire. Apparently she spoke with Sears, so they had someone come out and take out the defective dishwasher and then they installed another new Kitchenaid. To this day, I will not leave my home if I turn the dishwasher on. They were not willing to refund my money at Sears, eventhough it was a brand new unit they had installed. Sears sucks as far as I am concerned.
    I want to be included in the class action suit.

  • Chris Ryan August 10, 2012, 10:47 am

    I have a Kenmore Dishwasher model 665.16352301. Two nights ago it caught on fire and smoke was billowing out of the front panel. I could not turn it off using the buttons and had to shut off the breaker. It left a terrible acrid smell in our home. We purchased the unit new when we built our home. The CPSC has a recall out for the unit. Kenmore is sending a person out with a new motor and wire on the 15th to do the work from the original recall that we did not know about. I am not sure how this is going to work as all the wiring and the inside of the door is melted but I will play along. My hope is that the tech will replace the entire unit as I do not want it in my house anymore. I am just glad that we were home when it occured as I believe that the fire would have taken our home. Even worse, I am glad that we were awake when it occured becuase there is no telling what could have happened to our family. I will repost after Kenmore comes out to assess the problem.

  • Brent Kerns August 11, 2012, 3:26 pm

    Last week we were about ready to leave on vacation and turned on our kitchen aid dishwasher while we finished packing. We heard a pop and a few minutes later in the hall I smelled what was like gun smoke. We found that the dishwasher was fried. Turned if off. We were within 20 minutes of leaving the home.

    Model KUDP01ILWH Purchased 1/02/05

    Can’t find anything about a recall or the status of the class action law suit. Did it get class status? We have received nothing about a recall or the class action.

    Brent Kerns
    Central Indiana

  • kelly August 13, 2012, 8:36 pm

    Did anything ever become of this?
    Model number 15879000
    Serial number FM0315687

    Caught on fire thank goodness we were home!!

  • Eunice Chapman October 1, 2012, 6:07 pm

    I purchased my KitchenAid Dishwasher in 2005 from HHGregg in Atlanta, GA. At least twice I had service before the circuit board had to be replaced in 2007. I reported the fire in 2009.to(a web site) Class Action Law Suit. Never heard anything from it. My KitchenAid Dishwasher: MOD: KUDI01FLSS5
    SER #: FR3005553
    I was at home when the big fire started and had it disconnected by a whirlpool serviceman whom was told to charge me because my warranty had just expired. The time before that the serviceman saw the chard insulation and smoke coming from the circuit board. After doing something to it, he said it was installed wrong. I”ve been waiting to hear from someone about a replacement. NOTHING in 1 year now 3 years gone by. please let me know what’s happening with this situation.

  • Justin Elkins November 25, 2012, 1:08 pm

    Bought our Whirlpool Quiet Partner III after Hurricane Ike in ’08. One year later it dies. Money’s been tight so we haven’t had it repaired because it was sucking money out of our pockets with enormous water and electric bills. Our clothes washer doesn’t run us THAT much! Anyway, have lately reconsidered fixing it and even found the easy to install part – Thermal Fuse. Now, after reading these horror stories, I’m thinking maybe we just keep washing the darn things by hand.

  • Mario Segal December 30, 2012, 2:24 pm

    This just happened to us last night with our kenmore Elite branded Whirlpool made machine, luckilly the fire stayed inside the machine – not a lot of comfort, what if it did not
    The board retails for $100 at sears, does someone have to die before whirlpool does a recall?
    I called sears and the joke is they say they will send a technician if I pay. Even for free I would not allow a replaced board to be installed, what if the casing was weakened and next time it is worse.
    The machine is dead so we purchased a new one, made sure it was NOT manufactured by Whirlpool. Really sad that an otherwise trusted brand now is forever in my mind suspect.
    Anybody know how I can join the lawsuit? I think this is a defect and the principle requires some remedy, in my case say for them to pay a portion of the price to replace it. I am considering doing a small claims against them, since all I want is relatively little, it is the principle

  • Evonne January 28, 2013, 6:20 pm

    We purchased a whirlpool from Lowe’s in December of 2012 and we have had 5 major repairs on it and we were told it was the electronic board that is bad. Do not buy a whirlpool 24 inch build in (biscuit Energy Star with the item number #377836 and a model number of #WDF310PlAT. Whirlpool isn’t wanting to replace it even though they told Lowe’s that after 3 repairs the dishwasher would then be replaced. We are fighting with them as well as Lowe’s to have it replaced.

  • Ann Marchant March 26, 2013, 1:11 pm

    We have a double oven by Kenmore. We are on our fourth set of electronic. They have been replace with electronics from: GE, Whirlpool; the whatever else has been sent to the Sears repair people. It has costs us an enormous about for each repair, so much so we could of bought a new set, but, why, if all the electronic boards are the same. Give me a double oven with dials! And, one that I can use both ovens at the same time without the heat effecting the electronics!

  • brian yates March 29, 2013, 7:08 pm

    We bought our kitchen aid dishwasher in Feb.2012. 3 weeks after the warranty ran out the diswasher stopped working. The tech. came out and said that there was a recall on a hose clip that holds a water pipe to the motor that was crap(a $1.50 item) he replaced it and now it needs a mini computer. Of course Whirlpool want me to pay for it. What a load of bollocks. Cheap and nasty but we paid almost $1000.00for it. Crooks!

  • Reda Hanna April 16, 2013, 11:23 pm

    I bought kenmore dishwasher about 2 years ago last month I turn it on to wash some plates Then We heard a pop and a few minutes later in the hall I smelled what was like gun smoke. We found that the dishwasher was fried. Turned it off. Open the outer door found wires melted from over heating .

  • susana May 19, 2013, 10:06 pm

    I bought a Kenmore dishwasher in 2004. About 6 months ago I started to smell smoke and heard hissing noises. I looked over and flames were coming out of the control panel. I had called my Smart Service from BGE to repair it. But after coming 5 times and not to be able to repair it since the dishwasher was fried, they gave a $100.00 to get a new dishwarsher. I paid $700.00 for the Kenmore and I treat my appliances at home very well. I also contacted Sears a week ago.
    They hardly seemed concerned about the fire. They were more interested in signing me up for a 230.00 warranty so they could come and fix it. They said if they couldn’t fix it they would give me a 500.00 Sears credit to purchase a new one. I told them that was okay I would never again purchase appliances from Sears. It would be worth it to not get the 500.00 and not be scared that my house would burn down.
    I can not see the model number since the whole panel burned down, but I have all my original purchase papers and all of the receipts to presenta claim. I wish that we could join forces to create a class action and get our money back. I worked too hard to give my money away to Sears. Thanks.

  • tom coleman October 20, 2013, 11:08 am

    lost everything because of Sandy. Replaced kitchen with kitchenaid oven, fridge, didiwasher and microwave. Dishwasher leaked and outer door discolored and rusting -inferior steel and electronic panel failed and replaced.dishwasher door problem they deny responsibility-cosmetic they claim-what a bunch of crap.
    Fridge electronic panel failed twice. Gas jets on oven had to be adjusted as flames too high. Their products and service are horrible. I am PISSED!

  • michael wasko December 11, 2013, 11:50 pm

    I am stunned my dishwasher caught fire right side black smoke and flames thank God we were in the kitchen to open the door and shut off power after this episode and reading all these comments I will never purchase a Kenmore elite again model#16592201

  • David Morrison January 5, 2014, 8:36 pm

    Beware. My Kenmore Dishwasher model # 665.17463300 Caught FIRE. I was lucky. I was going to turn it on before going to bed however I forgot to so I turned it on the next morning 10 minutes after turning it on it caught fire.I contacted Sears they informed me it was out of warranty and would not do anything about it. great customer service Sears way to GO!!!!

  • Donna Capshaw November 20, 2014, 3:10 pm

    I own a Sears Kenmore Elite model 665-1705, we purchased it in 2006. Two weeks ago the circuit board overheated and caused an electrical fire, thankfully we were still awake and turned off the circuit. I contacted Sears and they wanted to send out a technician at my expense. When I questioned them about not contacting me and letting me know of a KNOWN danger involving this dishwasher they hung up. I visited my local store and they said they could offer me a 10% discount on a new dishwasher. No thanks, after spending a huge amount on this dangerous one I don’t believe I want another, I’ll wash by hand thank you.

  • Mike November 17, 2020, 12:23 pm

    Kenmore- what a MISRABLE peuce of junk. I actually bought matching pieces of overpriced junk and opted for the matching refrigerator. The top rack on the dishwasher has already broke, it doesnt drain properly and the cycles take forever. As fir the fridge, the ice maker gets stuck and it wont produce ice. I’m embarrassed to have spent so much on appluances only to be duped. I will NEVER BUY KENMIRE.

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