Crock-Pot Class Action Lawsuit Claims ‘Easy-to-Clean’ Slow Cookers Shed Teflon Coating

Lawsuit claims manufacturers were warned of the problem by consumer complaints indicating the Teflon coating was bubbling and detaching.

A Massachusetts man’s class action lawsuit claims Crock-Pot Slow Cookers are defectively designed due to the detaching Teflon coating, making the device unusable and unrepairable.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Robert Ventullo in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on January 5, naming Newell Brands Inc. and Sunbeam Products Inc., the manufacturers of Crock-Pots, as defendants. It seeks class action status to represent all consumers who purchased the allegedly defective products.

Crock-Pot is a popular brand of slow cookers, which operate at low temperatures to prepare food. Many models are marketed as “easy-to-clean,” indicating that the products have a Teflon coating, making it difficult for substances to stick to the surface.

However, Ventullo’s claim indicates that the Crock-Pot’s Teflon surface has a problem with flaking, peeling and detaching, rendering it unfit for use.

The Crock-Pot brand name has also been mentioned in a separate series of lawsuits involving pressure cookers, which are distinct from the slow cooker concerns. Those complaints allege that certain Crock-Pot pressure cookers can explode during use, sending scalding hot contents onto users and others nearby. Unlike slow cookers, pressure cookers rely on sealed steam pressure to raise the boiling point of liquids and cook food much faster.

According to the lawsuit, Ventullo bought a Crock-Pot Slow Cooker in January 2023, saying he believed the advertisements and representations of its quality and performance. However, within less than a year, the coating began to peel away.

“After using the Slow Cooker as instructed and intended, the nonstick coating on the stoneware of his Slow Cooker peeled off and mixed in his food. After noticing this, Mr. Ventullo realized he would be unable to clean the Slow Cooker or continue to use it without the risk of ingesting Teflon after it flaked and migrated into his food, and he discontinued his use of the Slow Cooker.”

– Robert Ventullo v. Newell Brands Inc. et al

Ventullo argues that the problems with the Teflon coating were unlawfully concealed by the manufacturers and that the device did not perform as expected. He states that after informing the manufacturers about the defect that left his Crock-Pot unusable, they failed to reimburse him or admit the defect exists.

The lawsuit claims that the makers of the Crock-Pots should have known the Teflon coating would bubble up and detach, based on engineering knowledge, design decisions, quality assurance testing, warranty claims and customer complaints. Those complaints made the manufacturers aware that the Teflon coating was peeling off, yet they did nothing to address the problem.

The complaint seeks to represent all consumers who purchased the slow cookers with the defective Teflon coating. It presents claims of breach of express and implied warranty, violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, fraud, violation of Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, violation of state consumer protection statutes, breach of contract and unjust enrichment.

Pressure Cooker Lawsuits

Ventullo’s complaint comes as kitchen appliance manufacturers like Sunbeam and Newell face a growing number of pressure cooker lawsuits filed over the failure of safety features on those devices, which have been linked to numerous incidents of severe burn injuries.

Several recalls have been filed in recent years over pressure cooker explosion risks. Many of these recalls were for problems where defective designs allowed the lids to be opened while the contents were still pressurized, causing burning hot food and liquid to spray out and injure those nearby.

In 2023, nearly 1 million Best Buy Insignia pressure cookers were recalled, followed by more than 800,000 Sensio units being pulled from stores, both due to lid safety failures linked to explosion incidents.

Consumers injured by similar defects involving brands such as Crock-Pot, Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi and others may be entitled to financial compensation. Pressure cooker injury attorneys are offering free case evaluations to help individuals determine whether they qualify to file a lawsuit.

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