Washing Machines, Other Or Not Specified
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Laundry & Household Appliances · CPSC Code 140
Down 23% over 5 years
The verdict
Washing Machines, Other Or Not Specified carry a danger score of 37/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 13,360 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 23% over the last five years.
- 37/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 13,360
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 5.0%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 140 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 37/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for washing machines, other or not specified - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume13,360 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)5.0%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-23%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Washing Machines, Other Or Not Specified (CPSC product code 140, in the Laundry & Household Appliances category) generate an estimated 13,360 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 267,191 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 37/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 23% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2014 (15,609 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2022 (9,429 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for washing machines, other or not specified is strain, sprain to the lower trunk, accounting for approximately 30,928 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by other to the lower trunk (17,973 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 50,773 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 5.0% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 1,413 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how washing machines, other or not specified fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 5,246 | 3,238 | |
| 5-14 | 6,074 | 4,587 | |
| 15-24 | 16,993 | 10,254 | |
| 25-34 | 30,770 | 20,003 | |
| 35-44 | 30,194 | 19,977 | |
| 45-54 | 23,943 | 20,610 | |
| 55-64 | 13,653 | 14,942 | |
| 65-74 | 8,769 | 12,370 | |
| 75+ | 7,443 | 18,125 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Trunk | Fracture | |
| Foot | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Finger | Fracture | |
| Finger | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
47 YOM MOVING WASHER WITH DOLLY SLIPPED AND FELL HURT BACK DX ACUTE LOW BACK PAIN
48 YOF INTO ER WITH LEFT ARM AND NECK PAIN THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH. PATIENT DENIES ANY ACUTE INJURIES OR FALLS. SHE ADMITS YESTERDAY SHE WAS HELPING HER MOTHER FIX A WASHING MACHINE AND DID MOVE THE MACHINE HERSELF. IN ADDITION SHE HAD BEEN DOING SOME SHOVELING AND HAD PAIN UP HER ARM. DX: CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS WITH RADICULOPATHY, LEFT ARN AND NECK PAIN.
29YOM, C/O LACERATION LEFT INDEX FINGER WHILE MOVING A WASHING MACHINE DX: LACERATION LEFT INDEX FINGER
88YOF HAS DEVELOPED WEAKNESS AND HAD A FALL FOUR DAYS AGO STRIKING HER HEAD ON THE WASHING MACHINE THEN HAD ANOTHER FALL LAST NIGHT STRIKING HER HEAD ON THE BATHTUB CONTINUED WEAKNESS ANTICOAGULATED ON *** DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY; WEAKNESS
37YOM PRESENTS WITH ACUTE ON CHRONIC BACK PAIN. HE WAS MOVING AROUND HIS WASHER/DRYER AND FEELS HE LIKELY HURT HIS BACK DOING THAT PROJECT. HAS PAIN RADIATING DOWN HIS RIGHT LEG. DX: BACK PAIN
37YOM WAS TRYING TO PICK UP A WASHING MACHINE, THE MACHINE WAS UNEXPECTEDLY HEAVY AND HIS OPPOSITE ARM MAY HAVE SLIPPED AND FELT A POP AND FEELS PAIN IN HIS DISTAL RIGHT BICEP DX: TRAUMATIC INJURY OF RIGHT BICEPS BRACHII MUSCLE
90YOF WAS WASHING CLOTHES IN HER LAUNDRY ROOM WHEN SHE SLIPPED AND FELL STRIKING HER HEAD AND CHEST ON WASHING MACHINE DX:RIB FRACTURES, CLOSED HEAD INJURY
73YOM WAS WASHING CLOTHES WHEN HE HAD A SLIP AND FALL STRIKING HEAD DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY
38YOM PATIENT REPORTS LOWER BACK PAIN AFTER MOVING A WASHER AND DRYER UPSTAIRS. DX: PAIN IN BACK, LUMBAR SPRAIN
21YOM C/O CLOSED HEAD INJURY S/P PT STATES HE HIT HIS HEAD ON THE OPEN DOOR OF A STACKABLE WASHER AND DRYER. DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY
63 YOM PUNCHED WASHING MACHINE, HURT WRIST. DX WRIST PAIN
20 YOM WAS PULLING SOME LAUNDRY OUT OF THE WASHER AND DRYER, WENT TO STEP BACKWARDS, LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL HITTING HIS BACK ON A POLE BEHIND HIM. DX: LUMBAR STRAIN, CONTUSION OF COCCYX
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Sunday September 4th i woke up to a normal morning started a load of laundry at like 730 before I had to clock in for work at 8am well as I'm getting ready to clock in I hear a loud noise almost as if someone crashed into my garage and yelled for my husband who had just come inside with my son we ran outside to the garage at 751 our new washer lg washer model number wt7300cv that we bought on May 20 2022 [REDACTED] explode/blew up i immediately contacted lg and filed a claim and they where schedule to send out a technician today between 1-5 i advised them there is no repairing the washer since its in pieces but they would still send someone out i said fine well fast forward today that have canceled the request for a technician to come out like what the hell come pick up the piece of junk and get it out so we can get a new washer that is now going to cost us more money on top of the fact I will have to send money on going to the laundry mat and when the washer exploded it also dented my dryer im so over this with no [REDACTED] resolution and all my questions still unanswered
The submitter is reporting the unit for posing a laceration hazard. She set the unit for a normal wash cycle. Once the cycle was done she opened the door and the inner glass shattered. There were pieces of glass inside the unit and around the front of the unit. She said the inner glass shattered and the outer glass is still intact. She said she had undergarments in the washer. She contacted the firm and reported the matter. She said they were unwilling to provide free repairs but they offered to sell her parts. She ordered the replacement glass and she said it arrived in pieces. The sensors for the detergent was replaced about 6 months ago. The rubber gasket around the door had mold and it was replaced about 18 months ago.
today, while doing a normal load of laundry, bedding/sheets, our Kenmore Elite Top Load washing machine completely blew up, into pieces, damaging the walls, the adjoining Kenmore Dryer and getting water all over the floor. Parts were blown down the hallway, and the damage was so extensive to the machine that it is distorted, bent, and completely destroyed.
I started experiencing issues with my LG top load washer. It was shaking violently and makng a lot of noise. After researchig the issue online I discovered that there was a recall on the model # WT5001CW. I initially reported the problem to LG on 7/22/2014 and they scheduled a local repair person to come out and fix the problem...They have been to my home at least 6 times now and we have yet to resolve the problem. I have also had issues with LG covering the repair, but after complaining to a supervisor, I was able to get the "problems not covered by the recall" covered. They stated that it's only a software update that will fix the problem, but I'm sure if your washer is violently shaking that more than just the software will need to be repaiered. It's been a nightmare...I have a repair person scheduled to come out Sept 12/2014 and I'm sure parts will have to be ordered, so that would mean another 2 to 3 weeks before it's repaired...at least I'm hoping this will be the last service call.
I cannot keep black mold from forming in inaccessible places where the detergent dispenser goes. I contacted Whirlpool previously and was told the product is fine but I should use Afresh more often on the special 'cleaning' cycle. THE WASHER IS NOT FINE, I CANNOT MITIGATE THE BLACK MOLD EVEN WITH CLOROX BLEACH. AFRESH DOES NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I think this is a design problem because the mold forms in areas that can be seen, but cannot be reached with normal cleaning materials.
Sears Kenmore model 110.28002011. Same problem as the recall that occurred on 12/18/2012. Recall number: 13-073 Same violent shaking this is the exact same circumstances that occurred during the recall as report in recall # 13-073 washer purchased new in Jan 2013. I will never buy another appliance from Sears not to buy and will tell friends and family and social media. Sears do not stand behind the product that they are selling... I will never buy another Kenmore not because of the problem but because of the lack of support behind the product. With all the complaints they received, neither Sears nor Kenmore stepped up to resolve this issue. look at all of the same problem Report No. 20140730-EF75B-2147442429 Report Date 7/30/2014 Report No. 20140707-7354C-2147443085 Report Date 7/7/2014 Report No. 20131022-6A87C-2147450663 Report Date 10/22/2013 Report No. 20130827-FFDFA-2147452629 Report Date 8/27/2013 Report No. 20131022-6A87C-2147450663 Report Date 10/22/2013 Report No. 20130827-FFDFA-2147452629 Report Date 8/27/2013 Report No. 20150508-20232-2147433120 Report Date 5/8/2015 Report No. 20130815-65760-2147453065 Report Date 8/20/2013 Report No. 20130818-5EBAD-2147452961 Report Date 8/18/2013 Report No. 20130412-D7AAF-2147457022 Report Date 4/12/2013 Report No. 20130326-E4116-1316984 Report Date 3/26/2013 Report No. 20130320-25B0C-2147457689 Report Date 3/20/2013 Report No. 20130815-65760-2147453065 Report Date 8/20/2013 Report No. 20130227-B8D60-2147458414 Report Date 2/27/2013 Report No. 20130214-CC209-2147458794 Report Date 2/14/2013 Report No. 20130205-9C940-2147459056 Report Date 2/5/2013 Report No. 20130131-9A0E0-2147459266 Report Date 1/31/2013 Report No. 20120516-F0A5C-2147467544 Report Date 5/16/2012 Report No. 20110411-B253D-2147480319 Report Date 4/1
Mold under the agitator. Mold is harmful dangerous. Clothes are being washed in moldy water. New diagnose of asthma in the family could be related to exposures to mold
Our top load washing machine Samsung, exploded in our laundry room, and caused damage to adjacent wall and luckily we were not home with our small children when this happened. I loaded the washing machine this morning and ran the wash, and when I went to swap it, I saw the machine ruined and drywall all over the floor and wall damaged. There werent any injuries, as we were not home when it happened.
Showing 8 of 1,413 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to washing machines, other or not specified on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are washing machines, other or not specified?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, washing machines, other or not specified have a danger score of 37/100 (low risk). An estimated 13,360 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from washing machines, other or not specified?
The most common injury is strain, sprain to the lower trunk, accounting for approximately 30,928 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from washing machines, other or not specified increasing or decreasing?
Down 23% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for washing machines, other or not specified injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 50,773 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by washing machines, other or not specified?
Of all ER visits involving washing machines, other or not specified, approximately 5.0% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (95.0%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with washing machines, other or not specified?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Laundry & Household Appliances
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 37/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.