Samsung Recalls 1.2 Million Electric Stoves Over Fire-Related Injuries, Pet Deaths

If you own a Samsung-brand electric stove, you should make sure your kids or animals stay away from it for the time being. The Korean tech giant issued a recall for 30 different range models that were very easy to start the burners accidentally. The U.S. government reported over 300 accidental starts since 2013, some resulting in fires that claimed the lives of family pets.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the affected slide-in stoves include those sold between 2013 and this year. They range from modern, smart stoves to older cooktops without any SmartThings connectivity. Many were sold from major retailers including Best Buy, Costco, The Home Depot, and more for between $1,250 and $3,050. 

The issue lies in the ranges’ knobs. The stoves were apparently very easy to switch on accidentally by a mere bump. This resulted in over 300 reports of customers or their families unintentionally turning on the range, according to the CPSC. Of those, around 250 were fires and 18 of those caused property damage. Forty of those fires allegedly caused injury and eight needed medical attention. Worst of all, the fires allegedly caused the death of eight pets.

The remedy for older models is simple range knob lock covers users need to install on their stoves. These go on top of the knobs and add more friction to keep them from turning on. Newer ranges require a more complicated knob cover users adhere to the range itself. You have to uncover the knob with a simple plastic lock each time you want to use that specific burner. 

Those knob covers are free, but you have to go through Samsung’s support page and list your exact 15-digit serial number. You could also call or email the company. If you don’t want a knob cover, then your other choice is to use Samsung’s SmartThings app to notify you when your WiFi-enabled stove is on. 

You can find your model number on a sticker in the upper-left corner of the oven door or inside the storage bin at the bottom of the oven. These include the following model numbers: