Samsung Electronics Co. is extending recall on its faulty washing machine models to Canada after the United States, said the company Friday (local time) upon receiving similar complaints about the washers produced from March 2011.

The recall in Canada involves 255,000 top-load washers covering 20 different models under the brand of Samsung and U.S.-based Kenmore that had been rolled out from factories in Korea and China between March 2011 and last month.

The drums in these washers may lose balance, triggering excessive vibration, resulting in the top separating from the washer, when a high-speed cycle is used for bedding, bulky or water-resistant items, the firm said in a press release.

Local authority Health Canada said Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. registered 69 complaints about tops detaching in Canada with 11 on minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers with the recalled washers will be offered two choices as part of the recall program: a free in-home repair that includes reinforcement of the washer’s top and a free one-year extension of the manufacturer’s warranty; a rebate that can be applied towards the purchase of a new Samsung washer machine with added loyalty incentive.

As an added safety measure, Samsung will send a Home Label Kit to every buyer that includes step-by-step instructions for applying safety information to the machine, warning labels, a new control panel guide and instructions for applying them to the machine.

Owners of the recalled washers are advised to use the delicate or waterproof cycles when washing bedding, water-resistant or bulky items, as the lower speeds lessens the risk of injury.

Details regarding repairs or rebates for consumers with the affected models in Canada can be found on the Samsung Electronics Canada website.

At 12:58 p.m., shares of Samsung Electronics were at 1,639,000 won ($1,441.77), down 0.06 percent, or 1,000 won, from the previous session.

By Lee Dong-in

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