Samsung recalled 1.1 million electric ranges after front knobs turned on by accident

On August 8, 2024, Samsung and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 1.12 million slide-in electric ranges sold in the United States from May 2013 to August 2024 for $1,250 to $3,050. The front-mounted control knobs could be turned on accidentally — by a person or a pet brushing against them — leaving burners on unattended. Samsung received more than 300 reports of accidental activation, around 250 fires, about 40 injuries (8 requiring medical attention) and at least 7 pet deaths. No human deaths were reported.

The design flaw sat in the most reachable part of the stove: knobs on the front panel that a child, an adult or a pet could hit without meaning to. CPSC data covering ten manufacturers recorded 338 accidental activations of ranges or cooktops between 2018 and May 2024, of which Samsung's recall addressed the largest share. Eighteen of the Samsung fires caused extensive property damage.

Samsung's remedy was not a repair but a free set of knob locks or covers, and the company told owners they could keep using the ranges while waiting for the parts. Samsung said its knobs met industry safety standards and pointed to new ranges introduced in April 2024 with 'three-step precision knobs', while joining a CPSC working group on knob safety. The recall covered 30 model numbers and became one of the largest appliance recalls of 2024.