LG recalls 500K ovens after fires lead to injuries, dead pets
Nearly 500,000 ovens sold across the United States are being recalled due to a fire hazard that has led to injuries, property damage, and the deaths of pets, LG Electronics announced Wednesday in a notice posted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall affects ovens with front-mounted knobs that can be unintentionally turned on, creating a serious safety risk.
According to the CPSC, at least 86 reports have been filed regarding unintentional activation of the heating elements.
The faulty ovens have been linked to more than 28 fires, with at least five causing significant property damage exceeding $340,000.
Additionally, eight minor injuries, including burns, have been reported, and at least three of the fires resulted in the deaths of pets.
The recalled ovens were sold at major retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s as well as online at LG.com.
They were available for purchase between 2015 and January 2025, with prices ranging from $1,400 to $2,650, depending on the model.
Manufactured in Mexico and South Korea by LG Electronics Inc., the ovens were distributed by the company’s US subsidiary, based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
A full list of affected model and serial numbers can be found on LG’s official recall page.
LG is advising owners of the recalled ovens to contact the company for a free warning label and placement instructions.
This label serves as a reminder to use the control lock function on the oven panel to prevent accidental activation of the heating elements.
“Consumers are cautioned to keep children and pets away from the knobs, to check the oven knobs to ensure they are off before leaving home or going to bed, and not to leave objects on the oven when it is not in use,” the recall notice stated.
Consumers can reach LG Electronics at 800-399-3265 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, by email at lgrange.recall@lge.com or online at lgecares.com/rangerecall.
In the summer of 2024, Samsung recalled over 1.1 million ovens following reports of approximately 250 fires that caused injuries and led to the deaths of at least seven pets.
The CPSC has warned about the dangers of accidental oven activation.
According to the agency, it has documented cases in which fires ignited after range knobs were inadvertently turned on — either by people bumping into them or by pets interacting with the controls.
Between 2018 and May 30, 2024, CPSC data recorded 338 incidents of ovens or cooktops being unintentionally activated, involving 10 different manufacturers.
Two of these incidents resulted in fatalities, while 31 caused nonfatal injuries.
“Additionally, CPSC staff have found two other fatal incidents where an oven was accidentally turned on when a knob was bumped, but the manufacturer is unknown,” the agency reported.
A 2024 home security video highlighted the risk, showing a dog jumping onto a stove and inadvertently switching on a burner.
The burner’s flames ignited a nearby cardboard box, leading to a fire that displaced a family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The homeowner was treated for smoke inhalation, according to CBS affiliate KKTV.
The recall serves as a stark warning to consumers to check their ovens, ensure they are properly secured, and take precautions to prevent accidental activation that could lead to dangerous and costly fires.
“I’d like to clarify that this is not the usual kind of CPSC ‘recall,’ because the affected products have a proven safety feature built in,” a spokesperson for LG Electronics USA told The Post.
“Simply put, LG is reminding consumers about our unique safety function called ‘Lock Out’ or ‘Control Lock’ available on LG electric ranges with front-mounted knobs since 2015.”
The company said it “will provide a more prominent label that reminds consumers to use the exclusive Control Lock/Lock Out function.”
“When activated, this innovative function, available only on LG ranges, locks the cooktop heating elements from being turned on even when the knob is turned.”
LG said it was “proud of this patented LG invention explicitly designed to enhance the safety of LG ranges.”
