Samsung recalls 2.8 mln washing machine in U.S. over injury risk

Samsung is recalling 2.8 million washing machines in the United States over injury risk caused by a top lid detachment, said the company and a U.S. safety organization on Friday.

The recall is a new blow to the South Korean electronics giant, which has been undergoing a brand crisis due to its fire-prone flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

The latest recall involves 34 models of Samsung top-load washers, whose top "can unexpectedly detach from the washing machine chassis during use, posing a risk of injury from impact," said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in a statement.

The top separation could be the result of excessive vibrations triggered by an unbalanced drum, explained the company in its own statement.

Samsung has received 733 reports of washing machine problems including the top detachment issue, nine of which were injury-related, causing a broken jaw, an injured shoulder, and other impact, according to the statement posted on the commission's website.

The affected washing machines have been sold in the home appliance stores nationwide since 2011, with a price range of 450-1,500 U.S. dollars.

Samsung recalled around 2.5 million Note 7 smartphones in September following multiple reports of phones overheating or catching fire. Later the replacement devices were also found prone to catch fire.

Last month, the world's largest smartphone maker had to scrap the whole model less than two months after the flagship smartphone's debut. Endi