Ninja Blender Laceration Lawsuit Alleges Unsecured Blade Caused Severe Injuries

Series of SharkNinja blender lawsuits claim defective blade assemblies can detach or malfunction during normal use, causing severe lacerations, burns and other serious injuries.

A Texas woman has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging that SharkNinja has continued to sell defectively designed blenders that pose a safety risk to consumers.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Jennifer Blay-Smith in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on July 14, naming SharkNinja Operating LLC as the defendant. 

Blay-Smith claims she suffered lacerations when the blade assembly of her Ninja QB1000 Series blender detached from its base during use.

Kitchen Appliance Injury Lawsuits

Ninja blenders are among the most popular countertop kitchen appliances, marketed for their powerful motors and stacked blade technology that can quickly blend a wide range of foods and beverages. Unlike conventional blenders, some Ninja models feature a removable blade assembly that is lifted out of the pitcher after use.

However, a number of SharkNinja blender lawsuits allege design defects may allow the blade assembly to detach unexpectedly or cause the appliance to fail during normal operation, exposing consumers to severe cuts and other injuries.

The complaints are part of broader product liability litigation involving allegedly defective kitchen appliances that use high-speed blades, pressurized cooking systems or sealed containers. In May 2025, SharkNinja recalled nearly 2 million Ninja Foodi pressure cookers following reports that the lid could be opened while the contents remained pressurized, resulting in more than 100 burn injuries.

Similar claims have been raised in pressure cooker explosion lawsuits involving Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot, Crock-Pot and other brands. Those cases allege defective lid-locking mechanisms allowed scalding food and liquid to erupt from the appliances, causing severe and potentially life-altering burn injuries.

SharkNinja Blade Design Defect Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Blay-Smith was using the blender for its intended purpose of blending food on or about July 28, 2024, when the unsecured blade assembly detached from the drive shaft, causing severe lacerations. She alleges that the incident resulted in painful injuries, medical expenses, physical pain, emotional distress and other damages.

Blay-Smith contends that safer alternative designs were readily available, including locking or permanently securing the blade assembly to the drive shaft. She claims SharkNinja continued selling blenders with the unsecured design despite knowing it posed an unreasonable risk of serious laceration injuries.

The lawsuit alleges that SharkNinja failed to redesign the product, adequately test the blender or warn consumers about the alleged danger, arguing the company prioritized profits over consumer safety.

“Defendant failed to market an economically feasible alternative design, despite the existence of economical, safer alternatives, which could have prevented the Plaintiff’s injuries and damages”

— Jennifer Blay-Smith v. SharkNinja Operating LLC

To support her allegation that the company was aware of the potential hazard, the complaint cites a November 2015 Consumer Product Safety Commission recall involving approximately 1.1 million Ninja BL660 series blenders, as well as at least 53 reported laceration injuries, stemming from the same alleged defect.

Despite the known risks, Blay-Smith alleges that SharkNinja continued to design and sell blenders with loose, unsecured blade assemblies, putting consumers at risk.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict products liability, negligence and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. It is seeking general, special and punitive damages for Blay-Smith’s injuries and suffering.

Sign up for more legal news that could affect you or your family.