After receiving reports of 250 fires and dozens of injuries, Samsung announced a recall of over 1.1 million electric ranges across the United States.
According to a notice released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday, these slide-in ranges have knobs installed on the front that could accidentally start the stove if touched or bumped by a person or a pet. This poses a fire hazard.
Since 2013, Samsung has received over 300 reports of incidents involving the accidental activation of the knobs on these ranges, with the recalled ranges being associated with approximately 250 fires.
The CPSC stated that out of these 250 fires, at least 18 resulted in significant property damage, while 7 incidents involved the death of pets.
Additionally, the CPSC reported approximately 40 injuries, with 8 individuals requiring medical treatment.
Consumers can determine if their slide-in electric range is part of the recall by checking the model number printed on the product. Samsung and the CPSC have both published a list of affected product models online.
The series of models being recalled were sold between May 2013 and August 2024 on the Samsung.com website and at various retailers across the U.S., including Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.
Consumers who own these products are advised to contact Samsung Electronics America, based in New Jersey, to receive a free set of knob locks or guards matching their model.
Furthermore, the CPSC emphasized that affected consumers should exercise extra caution by keeping children and pets away from the electric ranges, ensuring the stove is turned off after cooking, and checking to make sure it’s off before leaving home or going to bed.
The commission also reminded consumers not to place or store any items on top of the stove when not in use, as accidental activation of the stove could potentially ignite these items.
(Reference to relevant reports from the Associated Press)