Frigidaire and Kenmore Smoothtop Electric Ranges Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

Certain Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges

Date of Recall:

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

CPSC Release Number:

09-333

Manufactured In:

United States

Company Phone Number:

(800) 449-9812

Units:

About 200,000

Manufacturer:

Frigidaire, a division of Electrolux Home Products Inc., of Augusta, Ga.

Sold By:

Sears and other national chain and independent retailers nationwide from June 2001 through August 2009 for between $1,000 and $2,500.

Problem/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. This poses a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Injuries/Incidents:

Frigidaire has received 126 reports of incidents, including four reports of minor burns and two reports of minor property damage.

Description:

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 in the recall:

Frigidaire (Serial Number Range VF122xxxxx - VF831xxxxx) and Models Beginning with
FEFBZ90GC FEFLMC55GC FEFLZ87GC	GLEF396AB GLEF396AQ GLEF396AS GLEF396CQ GLEF396CS GLEFM397DB	GLEFM397DQ GLEFM397DS GLEFM97FPB GLEFM97FPW GLEFM97GPB GLEFM97GPW	LEEFM389FE	PLEF398AC PLEF398CC PLEF398DC PLEFM399DC	PLEFMZ99EC PLEFMZ99GC PLEFZ398EC PLEFZ398GC

Remedy:

Consumers should stop using the recalled ranges immediately and contact Frigidaire or Sears to schedule a free repair.

Consumer Contact:

For additional information, contact Frigidaire at (800) 449-9812 between 8 a.m. and midnight ET Monday through Saturday or visit the firm�s recall Web site at www.smoothtoprangerecall.com. Consumers who purchased their products at Sears should call Sears at (800) 449-9810 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.

Associated Images
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User Comments

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Bad Kenmore glasstop. first one heated all burners on high when i wasn,t home. Technician blames $300 "brain".Bought a 2nd Kenmore stove. broiler turned on by itself with a roast cooking in the oven. Thank goodness we were home. It cost $240 to replace the "Brain". Last kenmore I will ever own.

Barb 3/29/10 5:25PM

Bad Kenmore NOT on list
model 665.95802000
serial: RK1617738
this stove from about 1999 turns on broiler coils by it self and will not turn off. Nearly started the house on fire but we walked in while the room was heating. I can't trust leaving the home now without shutting down that circuit. Have seen this similar post one other place from Susan...

russ 12/10/09 5:09PM

I called Frigidaire when our cooktop's burner was turning itself on (high)- they seemed unconcerned; it was repaired under warranty. After the warrantee expired, another burner stopped working entirely, the lights on our panel would flash randomly, and the "repaired" burner started turning itself on randomly, again; before the repair could be scheduled, the wiring went up in a cloud of heinous smoke. I called Frigidaire, they still seemed unconcerned - repair company came out, I expected a replacement and was shocked when all they could offer is further repair. Yesterday, I smelled the (sadly) familiar acrid smell of wiring melting, and yet another burner has begun turning itself on and off. Time to, once again, disconnect the circuit and live without our cooktop until the repair can be made. Our double oven stores steam and burns my face when I open the door. Our dishwasher falls apart with sad regularity. Our downdraft vent operates intermittently. These expensive "professional" quality appliances are anything but...NEVER AGAIN will I purchase Frigidaire or Electrolux!

InFearOfHouseFire 12/6/09 4:33PM

Seems odd (or perhaps illegal?) that we purchased a maintenance agreement and have had problems with burners requiring service. Yet only when we happened by a favorite dealer and by chance saw a recall notice posted at the appliance dealer were we informed. My web search uncovered an unsafe recall for which we never have been notified by Frigidaire or Electro Lux.
We both grew up with Frigidaire products, but this may well be our last dealing with Electrolux. They should contact recipients via mail or email or phone. They have the information but ... inept, irresponsible? incompetent? or just lazy or bad business people? This is NOT Good!

Machman 11/14/09 1:16PM