OSAKA--Top-loading washer-driers manufactured by Sanyo Electric Co. that have been recalled three times due to defects, have caught fire or emitted smoke in four more cases, it was learned Tuesday.

The firm said three of the four incidents occurred due to overheating, a different cause than those that prompted the past recalls.

The firm will recall about 280,000 washers of the same type and related types. It is extremely unusual for the same type of product to be recalled four times.

The washer that caused the recent incidents is the AWD-A845Z. About 80,000 of the washers were manufactured between April 2002 and May 2003.

The four incidents occurred since June in Osaka, Aichi and Kumamoto prefectures and Hokkaido.

No injuries were reported. However, a house suffered fire damage in one of the incidents, and sparks were emitted from a temperature control device on a heater in three of the four incidents. The device had not been subject to repair claims.

The firm recalled the top-loading washer-driers in September 2004, January 2007 and February 2008. A terminal that connects a heater circuit was insufficiently welded in the first defect, while the second and third defects resulted from terminal repair errors.

(Nov. 19, 2008)