Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances is recalling 45,500 dishwashers sold in Canada because an electrical component can overheat and catch fire.

Consumers should stop using the dishwashers, and Bosch is paying for repairs. In Canada, Sears Canada has offered to organize repairs for its customers who bought the dishwashers.

As of September 2008, Bosch knew of 12 reports of incidents in Canada, "some of which may include alleged fires and subsequent property damage," Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority said in a notice posted on its website and the Bosch website on Jan. 15.

There were no reports of injuries.

It covers six Bosch dishwashers and one Siemens model, all produced by the joint venture of the two German companies.

The dishwashers were made between May 1999 and July 2005 and sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The problem in Canada received more attention after Sears Canada announced the plan to organize repairs for the dishwashers on Friday.

The Canadian recall was announced as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned about 476,000 of the appliances sold there. The commission said there were 51 incident reports, including 30 fires that damaged property.

The model and serial numbers of the dishwashers are available through the Sears Canada, Consumer Product Safety Commission and Electrical Safety Authority news releases.

Consumers can call Bosch at 1-800-856-9226 for help.

Recall notice