Samsung recalled over one million stovetop ranges this week over concerns for fire risks.
On Thursday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that it was recalling around 1,120,905 Samsung “Slide-in Electric Ranges” due to a certain piece posing a fire risk.
“Front-mounted knobs on the ranges can be activated by accidental contact by humans or pets, posing a fire hazard,” the U.S. CPSC said.
According to the CPSC announcement, Samsung has received over 300 reports of the “unintentional activation of the front-mounted knobs by humans or pets” since 2013.
“These ranges have been involved in approximately 250 fires. At least 18 fires caused extensive property damage. Approximately 40 injuries have been reported, eight of which required medical attention, and there have been reports of seven fires involving pet deaths,” the CPSC said.
Consumers who own the specific recalled ranges are encouraged to contact Samsung to receive a free set of “knob locks or covers compatible with their model of electric slide-in range to install.”
According to the CPSC, these recalled ranges were sold at a number of stores including Best Buy, Costco, The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as online through the Samsung website.
“Depending upon the model, the ranges were sold from May 2013 through August 2024 for between $1,250 and $3,050,” the CPSC said.
Consumers who have purchased the Samsung ranges can check the model number on the product to determine if their range was part of the lot of recalled products. According to the CPSC, the model number on the Samsung ranges are located on “the inside upper left corner of the oven door or inside the storage bin located on the bottom of the oven.”
“Never place, leave, or store anything on the top of your range. Such items can ignite if the range is accidentally activated or left on. Fires can occur when items are left on the top surface of any range that is accidentally activated or left on,” CPSC says.
In a separate CPSC safety alert, the agency stated that cooking is one of the most common causes of house fires and said that “it is essential to keep safety on the front burner not only while cooking but at all times.”
“Keep curtains, towels and potholders away from hot surfaces and store solvents and flammable cleaners away from heat sources. Never keep gasoline in the house,” the safety alert said. “Always have working smoke alarms inside and outside every sleeping area and on every floor of the home.”
In a press release announcing the recall, Samsung said that they are committed to product safety and are working with the CPSC’s Joint Gas and Electric Range Knob Working Group “where major brands across the appliance industry discuss how to revisit knob safety standards for all ranges to address inadvertent activation.”
“Samsung remains committed to delivering high-quality, innovative and safe products that enhance customers’ lives. Introduced in April of 2024, all new Samsung slide-in ranges include the industry’s first built-in three-step Precision Knobs, requiring a natural ‘pinching’ action before the ‘push and turn’ to ensure knobs are only activated intentionally,” Samsung said in the press release.
Samsung directed Newsweek to the press release when contacted for comment.
