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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hoover Co. is recalling 636,000 vacuum cleaners after receiving about 250 reports of overheating that caused the handle area to smoke, melt or catch fire.
The North Canton, Ohio-based subsidiary of Maytag Corp. is aware of only one injury -- a minor burn -- caused by overheating, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.
The Hoover self-propelled upright vacuums, made in the United States, have defective on-off switches.
The recall covers the following models: U6423-900, U6425-900, U6425-950, U6445-900, U6445-960, U6449-900, U6450-900, U6451-900 and U6455-900. The beginning of the serial numbers range from 0598 to 1199.
Household appliance and floor-care retailers nationwide sold the vacuums from May 1998 to July 2000 for $259 to $279.
Consumers are urged to stop using the vacuums and contact the company to schedule a free repair by visiting www.maytag.com or www.hoover.com or by calling 800-250-6075, weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
