Instant Pot Explosion Lawsuit Claims Defective Pressure Cooker Lid Caused Disfiguring Burns

Lawsuit claims Instant Pot manufacturers received numerous consumer complaints and independent reports involving pressure cooker explosions caused by similar design defects.

A Virginia woman has filed a product liability lawsuit over severe burns she suffered when an Instant Pot pressure cooker exploded without warning, due to design defects that allowed the lid to be removed before all of the internal steam and pressure had been released.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Najae Williams in the Circuit Court for Cook County, Illinois on July 9. It names as defendants Corelle Brands LLC formerly known as Instant Brands LLC, Instant Brands Inc., Corelle Brands Acquisition Holdings Inc., as well as multiple other entities involved in the design, manufacture, distribution and sale of the Instant Pot device. The case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on August 17.

Williams claims the safety features of her Instant Pot electric pressure cooker failed due to product defects, which the manufacturers knew or should have known about.

Pressure Cooker Explosion Risks

The Instant Pot device used by Williams is a kind of electric pressure cooker that prepares food by sealing steam inside the appliance to generate high pressure and temperatures. Since the contents can become extremely hot, the cooker incorporates multiple safety systems intended to keep the lid secured until pressure inside the pot has been released.

However, a growing number of lawsuits allege these pressure cooker safety systems can fail, potentially allowing the lid to be turned or removed while hazardous pressure remains inside.

If the lid opens under pressure, scalding steam, liquid and food can be forcefully expelled from the cooker and strike nearby users. Reported injuries have included serious burns to the face, chest, arms and hands, sometimes resulting in hospitalization, skin grafts and extensive medical care.

Instant Pot Injury Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Williams was preparing food on February 14, 2022, with an Instant Pot Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker Model DUO 60 Mickey Mouse Classic. When the cook cycle finished, the filing indicates Williams began to release the steam from the pressure cooker.

Once there was no more steam, Williams says she began to rotate the handle of the device when the lid exploded and blew off. The device released scalding hot steam, liquid and other hot food onto her body with great force. Williams sought medical attention. However, she suffered painful, disfiguring burns to her breasts and abdomen, resulting in permanent scars.

Williams points out that the Instant Pot is advertised as having certain safety features to prevent the lid from opening while under pressure, yet she argues that these advertising claims are false and the device safety features are defective and often fail.

The complaint alleges Instant Pot brand companies have received numerous consumer complaints and independent reports indicating other individuals have suffered injuries stemming from similar device defects. However, the manufacturers allegedly put profits over safety and failed to redesign the device with better safety features.

“As a direct and proximate cause of the sudden release of pressure, and discharge of the scalding contents of the Instant Pot, Najae Williams sustained serious, painful, disfiguring, and permanent scalding burn injuries to Najae Williams’s breasts, abdomen, and other injuries and damages as set forth in this Complaint.”

— Najae Williams v. Corelle Brands LLC et al.

The complaint raises allegations of strict liability, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, failure to warn, design defect and manufacturing defect. It seeks compensation for pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life and medical care and treatment.

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