LG is recalling about 500,000 electric ranges because the front-mounted knobs can be activated by accidental contact by humans or pets, posing a fire hazard.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it has received at least 86 reports of unintentional activation of the front-mounted knobs and that these LG ranges have been involved in more than 28 fires. At least five fires caused extensive property damage totaling more than $340,000. At least eight minor injuries have been reported, including burns, and there have been reports of three fires involving pet deaths.
The CPSC said consumers should contact LG for a free warning label and placement instructions. The label reminds consumers to use the Lock Out/Control Lock function on the range control panel to disable activation of the heating elements when the range is not in use. LG also produced an instructional video regarding the Lock Out/Control Lock feature.
Consumers are cautioned to keep children and pets away from the knobs, to check the range knobs to ensure they are off before leaving home or going to bed, and not to leave objects on the range when the range is not in use.
The affected ranges were sold at Best Buy, Costco, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other appliance stores nationwide and online at LG.com. Depending upon the model, the ranges were sold from 2015 through January 2025 for between $1,400 and $2,650.