Samsung Stove Lawsuit Alleges Defective Knobs on Recalled Range Caused House Fire

Lawsuit claims that a recalled Samsung range was defectively designed, resulting in a house fire that caused more than $500,000 in property damage.

A Pennsylvania couple is pursuing a lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that a recalled slide-in electric range inadvertently turned on when a front-mounted control knob was accidentally bumped.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Kristina Martin, Alexander Martin and Travelers Personal Insurance Company in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas on May 6. It names Samsung Electronics America Inc. and Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. as defendants.

The plaintiffs claim that the defective Samsung range caused a house fire that resulted in more than $500,000 in property damage.

Electric Range Dangers

An electric range is a kitchen appliance that combines a stovetop and an oven, using electricity to generate heat for cooking and baking. Instead of gas flames, it relies on electric heating elements and a glass-ceramic surface to heat cookware and food.

In 2024, a Samsung electric range recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), affecting more than 1.1 million units. The announcement came after at least 300 reports of front-mounted knobs being activated accidentally by people or pets, resulting in fires, property damage and injuries.

The range responsible for damaging the Martins’ property was allegedly included in that same Samsung stove recall, despite the owners claiming they were not notified of the potential issue until more than two months after the fire destroyed their home.

Samsung Range Fire Allegations

The Martins allege that their Samsung electric range turned on unintentionally on May 14, 2024, sparking a fire that severely damaged their Lancaster, Pennsylvania home while they were away. The couple claims they had not used the burner at all that day.

According to the complaint, the fire caused $568,029.66 in losses, including property damage, debris removal, cleanup and board-up services, emergency expenses and other costs associated with restoring the home.

The lawsuit claims the range was defectively designed and manufactured, inadequately tested, and sold without sufficient warnings or safety features, such as proper guarding or lockout mechanisms to prevent accidental activation.

Plaintiffs allege Samsung knew its front-mounted control knobs could be turned on accidentally, but failed to adopt an effective redesign, instead advising consumers to purchase aftermarket knob locks.

“Samsung was negligent in myriad ways that led to the Fire and hundreds of other such fires across the United States”

— Kristina Martin v. Samsung Electronics America Inc. et al

The lawsuit raises allegations of negligence, strict product liability and breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, as well as allegations that Samsung violated federal warranty laws requiring manufacturers to honor promises made about their products. 

It seeks compensatory and statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, interest, litigation costs and any additional relief the court determines is just and appropriate. 

Range Fire Lawsuits

Similar incidents involving kitchen ranges have led to other lawsuits and recalls. Last month, a wrongful death lawsuit was brought after a 62-year-old woman allegedly died in a house fire caused by a Frigidaire stovetop range that was unintentionally turned on, resulting in a fatal blaze.

In another case filed in April, a Minnesota-based insurance company brought a lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that an electric range with defective burner knobs accidentally ignited and caused a fire in an Iowa home, leading to significant property damage.

Additionally, Electrolux issued a separate recall involving certain Frigidaire and Kenmore electric ranges in May 2024, after receiving at least 212 reports that the units turned on unexpectedly, failed to shut off or heated to temperatures different from those selected by users.

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