479,000 potentially dangerous Bosch dishwashers in UK
What I have discovered over the last few weeks has convinced me that the UK's safety recall system is itself unsafe.
The product alert system has so many inconsistencies and inadequacies that now a vast range of manufacturers, consumer groups and safety authorities are demanding change.
My latest research has involved Bosch dishwashers - a batch of 632,000 sold between 1999 and 2005 has a fault which, in some circumstances, can cause fire.
A product alert was issued in July 2011, yet today ITV News is reporting that 478,940 remain unaccounted for.
That means only around 25% of the dishwashers have been traced, despite the voluntary efforts of Bosch. The firm placed adverts, sent 850,000 letters and phoned 140,000 customers.
They can repair faulty washers for free, taking about an hour.
We spoke to Stella Walker, who owned one of the affected Bosch dishwasher machines, but says she was unaware of the alert.
She told us:
Bosch told me there have been 269 fires caused by the fault, 14 deemed "serious". Experts fear it illustrates how the UK's product alert system isn't working.
Andy Reynolds of the Chief Fire Officers Association told us:
Joe O'Sullivan Bosch Operations Director, told me:
The industry average for tracing faulty electricals is just 20% - that suggests that the most glaring fault - is the UK's recall system itself.
Although the vast majority of Bosch dishwashers are not affected, if you would like to check yours, please check the website links we have on this website.