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Janome's Elna eXcellence 740 sewing machine is recalled due to the risk of electrical short circuit and fire.

Photo: Janome America

On June 1, Janome America and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a voluntary recall of Janome’s Elna eXcellence 740 sewing machine (pictured) due to a fire hazard the machine poses. According to the recall, the wires inside the machine can short circuit and may potentially cause a fire. The company estimates about 600 machines, manufactured in Japan and Taiwan, are affected.

One incident of a sewing machine catching fire has been reported, but no injuries or other property damage have been reported.

The Elna eXcellence 740 sewing machine is white and navy and has a digital touch panel, and the brand and machine’s name are printed on the front. The recall is for all Elna eXcellence 740 machines, sold at sewing machine stores nationwide from September 2010 through April 2011, at a cost of $3,000.

Owners should immediately stop use of their Elna eXcellence 740 machine, unplug it, and return it to the store where it was purchased for a free repair.

Please call Janome’s recall hotline for additional information: (800) 631-0183. Or visit www.elnausa.com. The CPSC is also interested in receiving more incident reports on this recall; log one at the agency’s website: SaferProducts.gov.

Stephani Miller, associate editor
Posted on Jun 6th, 2011 in sewing, tools & supplies, sewing machine, machines, product recall

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Comments (2)

TheThreadLady writes: Well, Janome fired the representative I was working with and were very unsympathetic about my plight. They told me I had to go through the dealer to get anything done. As usual, he was extremely sarcastic and unhelpful when I tried to get my money back. However, he did have to send the machine in on the recall. I brought it in to him in August of 2011, expecting a long process because I knew he would make it so! I had my right shoulder replaced on September 29th and was unable to do any sewing for 6 weeks. (That just about drove me crazy!) What with going to physical therapy and not being able to drive because my arm was in a sling I was unable to go to the dealer. When I called, all I got was the stall that the machine was still at Janome. Finally in Deceember I called and they said the machine was back. Wonder of wonders the machine now works beautifully. No more extra stitches when I stop sewing and no more bumps on the back of the quilt! However, I am still stuck with two very expensive machines! I have not used the Elna, except to check it out, so it is a brand new machine, but I know I will have to sell it as a used machine and will not get back what I paid for it. However, I am so glad I saw the notice of the recall on this site. I brought a copy of it with me when I went to the dealer and he was forced to admit there was a recall and he had to send it into Janome because I had already talked to them about it. At least now when I sell the machine I know I am selling one that works like it should and will not catch on fire! Thanks again for the heads up on the recall!
Posted: 11:42 am on February 23rd

TheThreadLady writes: No wonder the stupid machine would never work right! I tried to get a refund from the dealer, but he wouldn't give me one (I have since learned he comes from a family of con artists who keep changing the name of their dealerships to fool people). The Janome Representative (Elna is now owned by Janome) has promised to get me a brand new machine. However, he said the demand for the machine was so high that the factory couldn't keep up with the orders so it would take at least a month for me to get the machine. Well, it's been over a month and still no machine! Apparently he was feeding me a line of bull too! I am so angry about this! I have to have a machine that I can depend on because I sew for a living---I am a contemporary quilter and surface designer and also teach classes in threadwork. Because of that I went out and bought the Janome Horizon (it is the same type of machine as the 740, but it works like a dream). However, that means I put out the money for two machines instead of one! The Janome rep is going to get a call from me immediately! I am going to demand they give me my money back based on your article. My machine didn't have a fire, but it hesitates whenever I start free-motion quilting. That means I can't count on what my design is going to look like because it leaves thread bumps on the back of the quilt! Quilt show judges don't like that!
Posted: 2:13 pm on July 7th

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