4 sourced reports, with what to check before you buy. Each one links to the page it was reported on.
2 of these reports describe a fire, explosion or shock risk.
Costly or dangerous
Ares Condenser Dryers caught fire due to defective Zytel plastic in Epcos capacitors; 186 total incidents
Safety risk
The amended complaint in Arcelik v. DuPont states dryers caught fire due to defects in DuPont's Zytel product used in the capacitors. Arcelik's interrogatory response further states it is aware of 186 such incidents in Ares Condenser Dryers.
What to check. This is the underlying defect that triggered both recalls. Any Ares Condenser Dryer from the 2009-2013 production period with an Epcos B32332 capacitor should be checked.
Epcos B32332 capacitor with defective Zytel FR50 plastic caused fires; voluntary recall of 8-9 kg Ares Condenser Dryers
Safety risk
Arcelik's own court filing (response to interrogatories in Arcelik v. DuPont) confirms a voluntary recall of 8-9 kg Ares Condenser Dryers with Epcos 9uF capacitors from weeks 11-19 of 2012, following 21 observed incidents. UK notice issued May 31, 2017.
What to check. Owners of 8-9 kg Ares Condenser Dryers manufactured around 2012 should check whether their unit contains an Epcos 9uF B32332 capacitor from weeks 11-19 of 2012 and contact Arcelik for the recall rework.
Owner complaint: Ares condenser dryer fails to dry despite multiple part replacements (seal, door, heat pump, NTC sensor, main board, condenser pump)
An owner reports an Ares condenser dryer that fails to dry clothes after 8 months, with the authorized service replacing the seal, door, heat pump, NTC sensor, main board, and condenser pump — none of which resolved the issue.
What to check. This documents a persistent drying-performance defect that survives multiple part replacements, suggesting a systemic design or airflow issue rather than a single failing component.
A Turkish service guide notes that condenser-type Arcelik dryers require periodic cleaning of the condenser block, and that neglecting the lower condenser filter causes the machine to stop drying.
What to check. Owners should clean the condenser filter regularly; failure to do so is the most common cause of drying failure in condenser models.
These reports come from the pages linked under each item: owner forums, repair guides and workshops. They are not a diagnosis of any one unit, and a careful check of the one you are buying still applies.
Text from the Kriko Tumble dryers catalog, version 0.1.1, under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 license.
