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Between 1983 and 1989, GE manufactured approximately 3.1 million dishwashers under the GE and Hotpoint names which have a slide switch that can go bad.    After several switches caught on fire, GE issued a recall in October of last year, which we printed:

"There's been a recall of some models of GE and Hotpoint dishwashers.   If you, a friend or a relative has one of those brands of dishwashers that was manufactured between April 1983 and January 1989, take notice!  The latch mechanism can overheat and melt down, causing a fire which may escape the dishwasher and damage your kitchen and/or home.  For details on which ones are involved, visit the GE recall website, or call 1-800-599-2929 for information or assistance.  10/10/99"

Since the average dishwasher of that age would be ready for replacement, GE offered a rebate toward the purchase of another dishwasher.  Only 628,000 of these have now been replaced using the rebate.

This leaves approximately 2.9 million of them either having already been discarded, or sitting in someone's kitchen waiting to start a fire.  90 fires have been reported (you can bet that many never were reported) and 14 of those spread beyond the dishwasher.

As a kitchen fire can quickly spread and take lives, especially at night, GE is taking further steps to solve the problem.  Contact GE at the above phone number or website and free of charge, they will send an authorized technician to rewire the switch for you at your convenience.  Don't delay! 

To see if your older GE or Hotpoint dishwasher is included in this recall, check SafetyAlerts.

Until it's fixed, leave the door unlatched when not in use, and be sure your smoke detector is working if you use the dishwasher.