Knob Defect Can Cause Electrolux, AEG, Frigidaire, Kenmore Ranges to Turn On Inadvertently, Class Action Claims

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A proposed class action alleges Electrolux, AEG, Frigidaire and Kenmore ranges are dangerously defective in that simple, inadvertent contact with the products’ front-mounted knobs can turn on the burners without warning. 

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The 55-page lawsuit says that the unintentional actuation of the ranges at issue, all of which are made by defendant Electrolux Home Products, poses a significant risk of fire, property damage and personal injury, essentially due to the fact that a burner can be turned on through “a single smooth motion” of each knob. The ranges that allegedly turn on too easily “span several model numbers, but they all contain the same defect,” the filing states. 

“All the Ranges, gas and electric, contain the same, or substantially similar, front-mounted burner control knobs which are identically or similarly designed and, as a result, are prone to, and do, rotate as a result of minor, inadvertent contact causing them to unintentionally actuate.” 

According to the lawsuit, the defect plaguing the Electrolux-made ranges stems from the minimal pressure needed to push the burner control knobs in and the low force required to turn them to the on position, “which is inadequate to prevent unintentional actuation.” In other words, the suit says, the ease with which the knobs can be pushed in and rotated without resistance, and the lack of necessary guards, allows for the products to be turned on unintentionally.

The accidental actuation of a range’s knobs can cause electric cooktops to reach “extreme temperatures” and gas ranges to emit toxic fumes without the knowledge of the consumer, the suit relays. 

“The Defect substantially impedes the central function of the Ranges, which serve one purpose: safe cooking,” the case emphasizes.

The filing alleges Electrolux has known since at least 2013 that its name-brand, AEG, Frigidaire and Kenmore ranges were susceptible to unintentional activation, especially since consumers have submitted to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and elsewhere online numerous reports about the range knob problem.

“A range that turns on without a consumer’s knowledge has no value because it cannot be used safely,” the suit contends, claiming the products are worth far less than consumers paid for them. 

The case also charges that Electrolux’s warranty service is “deficient” in that the company “routinely denies warranty claims” arising from the apparent knob defect. Per the suit, Electrolux, despite being aware of the problem, has failed to implement an effective fix for consumers. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all United States residents who bought a new Electrolux, AEG, Frigidaire or Kenmore range, or otherwise acquired a range, primarily for household use and not for resale, except for consumers who bought their range in Michigan or Illinois. 

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