Top 3 Key Points:
- Samsung recalls over 1 million electric ranges due to fire risks linked to front knobs.
- Free knob covers or locks are available for affected models.
- Newer models have safer knobs to prevent accidental activation.
Samsung has issued a recall for more than 1 million of its slide-in electric ranges, warning that they pose a potential fire hazard due to faulty front knobs. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), these ranges have been linked to around 250 fire incidents since 2013.
What You Need to Know The recall affects 30 different models of Samsung’s slide-in electric ranges sold between 2013 and 2024. The ranges, priced between $1,250 and $3,050, can be accidentally turned on if the front knobs are nudged by pets or people. This poses a serious fire risk, especially if flammable items are left on the stove.
Instead of asking customers to return their ranges, Samsung is offering free knob locks or covers based on the model. To get yours, visit the Samsung support website, call 1-833-775-0120 (available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET), or email them at [email protected].
Background and Safety Precautions Over the past decade, Samsung has received more than 300 reports of accidental activation of these front-mounted knobs, leading to 40 injuries and 18 fires that caused significant property damage. Tragically, these incidents have also resulted in the deaths of seven pets.
To prevent such accidents, Samsung and the CPSC strongly advise users to avoid placing any items on the stovetop that aren’t being used for cooking, as these can ignite if the range is accidentally turned on.
New Safety Measures Samsung’s newer models, released in April 2024, feature redesigned knobs that require a pinching action to turn on, making it harder to activate them by mistake. While this recall is specific to Samsung, the CPSC notes that other brands with similar front-mounted knobs might also be at risk, though no other company has yet announced a recall or fix.
Samsung is working with the CPSC and other manufacturers in a “Joint Gas and Electric Range Knob Working Group” to enhance the safety standards of stove knobs and reduce the risk of accidental activation.
