South Korean electronics giant Samsung has announced it is recalling more than 1 million electric ranges from the U.S. market after the appliances caused a series of accidental fires that injured 40 people and killed several pets, the U.S. Consumer Protection Commission said Friday.
According to the Commission, the cookers in question are the cause of ” nearly 250 fires“, among whom 40 people were injured, eight of whom required medical treatment.
In addition, the Commission reported that seven fires resulted in the death of pets, and 18 cases of ” significant material damage ” have been reported.
Owners of the 30 affected models, sold between 2013 and 2024, totaling more than 1.1 million units, are encouraged to contact Samsung to arrange a free replacement of the control buttons or covers.
In a separate statement, Samsung confirmed that it has received reports of people or animals accidentally activating the buttons. However, the company did not mention any fires or animal deaths resulting from these incidents.
Samsung recommends that users of the recalled models take additional precautions, including keeping children and pets away from the buttons, checking them carefully after each use, and avoiding leaving objects on the buttons.
The massive recall isn’t the first blow to Samsung’s safety reputation. In 2016, the company was forced to pull its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone from the market after battery explosions cost it billions of dollars.
