Samsung recalls 1.1M slide-in electric ranges as pets keep setting homes on fire

Samsung has recalled more than 1.1 million slide-in electric ranges sold nationwide over fire hazard concerns after the company received reports of nearly 250 fires, leading to dozens of injuries and pet deaths.
The recall covered 30 models of the slide-in electric ranges with front-mounted knobs that can be activated accidentally by people or pets, posing a fire hazard if items are left on the top surface of the range, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on Thursday.
The recall comes after Samsung received more than 300 reports of such incidents since 2013, which included the 250 fires caused by the range knob’s “unintentional activation.”
Of the 250 fires, there at least 18 instances that caused “extensive property damage” and injured 40 people – eight of which required medical attention.
At least seven fires involved pet deaths, according to the notice.
Consumers owning recalled electric slide-in ranges are encouraged to contact Samsung to receive a free set of knob locks or covers compatible with the model sold between 2013 and 2024 as a remedy to the issue.
The notice also urges consumers using the range without the knob locks or covers to keep children and pets away from them, and always check the range knobs to make sure they are turned off before leaving home or going to bed.
Consumers are also urged to avoid placing, leaving, or storing anything on top of the range as “such items can ignite if the range is accidentally activated or left on,” resulting in a fire.
Samsung released a statement about the voluntary recall on Thursday, saying that customers can still use the slide-in electric ranges while waiting for the new set as the knobs meet “industry safety standards.”
The company said that it introduced new slide-in ranges with built-in three-step precision knobs in April of this year, noting that such knobs require a “pinching” action before the “push and turn” movement to turn it on.
These knobs are part of an effort to ensure that knobs are only activated intentionally, according to Samsung.

Samsung also said that some of its ranges with Wi-FI connectivity can send mobile notifications to users via the Samsung SmartThings app to warn them when a burner is activated.
The company added that there are some range models that have illuminated knobs that flash a “distinctive blue LED light” around the knob’s base when a burner is activated.
But the fire hazardous issues linked to ranges with front-mounted knobs may extend beyond the recalled Samsung products.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission released a summary of a “Joint Gas and Electric Range Knob Working Group” meeting on June 27, in which the company is aware of incidents where “houses burned, and people died from house fires started by range knobs accidentally turned on whether from people bumping into the knobs or pets activating the range.”
The federal agency noted that such issues “affect both gas and electric ranges” across several different manufacturers, indicating that this is not solely a Samsung problem.
The CPSC public data shows that there were 338 incidents invoving a “a range or cooktop accidentally activating” across ten manufacturers. between January 1, 2019 and May 30, 2024.
Between 2018 and May 30 of this year, CPSC data shows there were 338 incidents involving a range or cooktop accidentally being activated, involving 10 manufacturers.
Of those incidents, there were two deaths and 31 “nonfatal” injuries as a result of the fires, according to the agency.
The CPSC also noted that it have found two other fatal incidents where a range was accidentally turned on when a knob was bumped, but the manufacturer is unknown.”
The federal agency did not immediately disclose the names of the other manufacturers who might have experienced similar knob safety problems as Samsung did.
In the latest recall, Samsung’s ranges were manufacutred in Thailand and shipped to Samsung Electronics America Inc., at Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.
The recalled products were sold at Best Buy, Costco, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and other appliance stores nationwide, as well as online at Samsung.com.
They were sold from May 2013 through August of this year for between $1,250 and $3,050.
The recall model numbers can be found on the inside upper left corner of the oven door or inside the storage bin located on the bottom of the oven.
Find the recalled numbers here
To receive a free set of knob locks or covers, you can contact Samsung toll-free at 1-833-775-0120 from 9:00am to 8:00pm ET Monday through Friday; or reach the company by email at [email protected]; or visit the company’s website at samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-knit.