About 200,000 Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges are being recalled, announced the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The appliances, which are manufactured by Frigidaire, a division of Electrolux Home Products Inc., of Augusta, Georgia have been recalled due to fire hazard. Depending on the model, the surface heating elements can: 1. Turn […]
About 200,000 Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges are being recalled, announced the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The appliances, which are manufactured by Frigidaire, a division of Electrolux Home Products Inc., of Augusta, Georgia have been recalled due to <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">fire hazard. Depending on the model, the surface heating elements can:
1. Turn on spontaneously without being switched on,
2. Fail to turn off after being switched off, or
3. Heat to different temperatures than selected.
Frigidaire has received 126 reports of incidents, including four reports of minor burns and two reports of minor property damage.
This recall involves Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional, and Kenmore Elite smoothtop electric ranges with rotary knobs and digital displays. The following model and serial numbers are included. The model and serial number can be found by opening the range drawer at the base of the unit:
Frigidaire
Serial Number Range VF122xxxxx to VF831xxxxx with model numbers beginning with: FEFBZ90GC, FEFLMC55GC, FEFLZ87GC; GLEF396AB, GLEF396AQ, GLEF396AS, GLEF396CQ, GLEF396CS, GLEFM397DB, GLEFM397DQ, GLEFM397DS, GLEFM97FPB, GLEFM97FPW, GLEFM97GPB, GLEFM97GPW; LEEFM389FE; and PLEF398AC, PLEF398CC, PLEF398DC, PLEFM399DC, PLEFMZ99EC, PLEFMZ99GC, PLEFZ398EC, or PLEFZ398GC
Kenmore Elite
Serial Number Range VF122xxxxx to VF334xxxxx with models beginning with 790.99012, 790.99013, 790.99014, or 790.99019. The recalled Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges, which were manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Sears and other national chain and independent retailers nationwide from June 2001 through August 2009 for between $1,000 and $2,500.
The CPSC is advising consumers to stop using the recalled ranges immediately and contact Frigidaire or Sears to schedule a free repair. Frigidaire can be reached toll-free at 1-800-449-9812 between 8:00 a.m. and midnight Eastern Time, Monday through Saturday, or at the firm’s recall Web site at www.smoothtoprangerecall.com. Consumers who purchased their products at Sears should call Sears toll-free at 1-800-449-9810 between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Saturday.
Large appliance recalls over fire hazard issues have been in the news in recent months. In July, we wrote about another recall involving Frigidaire, of Cleveland, Ohio, for about 35,000 Crosley®, Frigidaire®, Kelvinator®, Kenmore®, Wascomat®, and White-Westinghouse® clothes washers because an internal defect in the washer’s drain pump can cause heat to build up. Last month we wrote that General Electric Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Kentucky recalled about 28,000 of its GE Profile™ Freestanding Dual Fuel Ranges because the wiring in the rear of the range can overheat. In April, GE recalled about 244,000 GE®, GE Profile™, Monogram®, and Kenmore® Wall Ovens, all manufactured by GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Kentucky because the extreme heat used in the self-clean cycle can escape if the wall oven door is removed and incorrectly re-attached by the installer or the consumer.