Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. make home appliances as well as smartphones and other devices. The complaint for this class action alleges that some of its electric and gas ranges are defective, however, in that their front-mounted burner control knobs can be accidentally turned on, without anyone being aware of it.
The class for this action is all persons who, during the applicable statute of limitations, bought one or more Samsung ranges in California, from Samsung or its authorized retailer sellers.
The ranges at issue have both ovens and cooktops. They come in different models, in gas, electric, induction, and dual fuel types, but all have front-mounted burner knobs.
The knobs on the ranges at issue purportedly must be pushed in and turned in order to turn a burner on. The complaint reproduces a page from a User Manual from one of the ranges. Step 1 is, “Push in and turn the control knob…” Farther down the page, under the words “Surface unit control knob, is the same instruction in an more abbreviated form: “1. Push the knob in” followed by “2. Turn in either direction to the setting you want.”
The complaint alleges, “The use of this ‘two-factor mechanism’ for activating a burner (i.e. pushing in and turning on the knob) is not arbitrary. It is an important safety feature required by international standards. … Accordingly, any range of merchantable quality would require the same ‘two-factor mechanism’ for activating a burner.”
But the complaint claims that the Samsung ranges “have burner knobs that will activate with the smallest application of rotational force, often without the knob being depressed. Accordingly, the slightest bumps caused by individuals or pets brushing against the Samsung Ranges[] can inadvertently activate the burners on the Ranges.”
The complaint quotes from reports at the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC):
- “The consumer has leaned against the stove while cooking or cleaning the range and unknowingly found the burners on.”
- “The consumers left their home for 9 hours and when they returned, the front left burner was on the high setting and bright red.”
- “[M]y dog touched the stove digital screen with his nose, in front of me, which then turned on the stove top ‘warmer’ burner. … So far he has turned on the self-clean feature, the timer, and the glass top warming element.”
- “The burners have been accidentally and unknowingly been turned on by several people in our home which has resulted in injury and loss of property.”
The complaint alleges that Samsung has been on notice of the defect and in fact has a page on its website saying that “Range knobs accidentally turn on cooktop too easily[.]”
Even so, the complaint alleges, the company has not fixed the problem, given customers replacement ranges, or refunded any of the range’ purchase prices.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Samsung Range Burners Turn On Too Easily Complaint
July 18, 2022
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. make home appliances as well as smartphones and other devices. The complaint for this class action alleges that some of its electric and gas ranges are defective, however, in that their front-mounted burner control knobs can be accidentally turned on, without anyone being aware of it.
Samsung Range Burners Turn On Too Easily ComplaintCase Event History
Samsung Range Burners Turn On Too Easily Complaint
July 18, 2022
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. make home appliances as well as smartphones and other devices. The complaint for this class action alleges that some of its electric and gas ranges are defective, however, in that their front-mounted burner control knobs can be accidentally turned on, without anyone being aware of it.
Samsung Range Burners Turn On Too Easily Complaint