SharkNinja Blender Explosion Lawsuit Claims Defective Design Caused Second-Degree Facial Burns

Lawsuit claims Ninja Foodi blender lacked adequate pressure relief mechanisms and warning indicators.

A Texas woman has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging she suffered severe burns when a Ninja Foodi blender suddenly sprayed her with scalding food while she was preparing a dish for her son’s class.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Nina Leanna Levesque against SharkNinja Operating LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on November 2.

Levesque alleges the Ninja Foodi blender contained a dangerous design defect that allowed friction and pressure to build up during use, causing the blender to explode and spray its contents onto users. The lawsuit claims SharkNinja knew or should have known about the defect and the risks it posed to consumers, yet continued selling the blender without addressing the safety concerns.

Blender Burn Injury Risks

Ninja Foodi blenders typically feature a motorized base and a blending cup with a screw-on lid containing metal blades. While these appliances are designed to blend ingredients quickly and efficiently, a number of product liability lawsuits have raised concerns about defects that may cause blenders to explode during normal use, exposing consumers to serious burn injuries.

Some lawsuits allege that friction generated during blending can cause heat and pressure to build rapidly inside the sealed container. If that pressure becomes excessive, the blending cup may suddenly rupture or separate from the blade assembly, spraying hot liquids and other contents onto nearby users.

In one recent case, a California woman alleged that the plastic cup of a Ninja blender exploded during use, spraying her with hot oil and causing severe burns and eye injuries.

Similar allegations were raised in a lawsuit filed by a Massachusetts woman who claims a NutriBullet blender exploded due to excessive heat and pressure, spraying her with scalding contents. She required hospitalization for serious burns to her face and body and alleges she continues to experience lasting complications from her injuries.

Concerns about sudden pressure releases and serious burn injuries have also been raised in numerous pressure cooker lawsuits involving popular brands such as Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot and Crock-Pot. Although these appliances operate differently from blenders, plaintiffs similarly allege that defective safety mechanisms can allow hot food and liquids to escape unexpectedly. In many cases, the lawsuits claim pressure cooker lids could be opened while the contents remained pressurized, despite manufacturer assurances that safety features would prevent this from occurring.

SharkNinja Blender Explosion Allegations

According to the complaint, Levesque was using a Ninja Foodi Smoothie Blender, model SS101TGT, on November 18, 2024, to prepare a dish for her son’s class. She placed cooked onion, garlic and water into the blending cup and operated the appliance using one of its blending settings.

When the blending cycle ended, Levesque claims the cup began making an unusual hissing sound before the blade assembly suddenly exploded, spraying scalding food onto her face, chest and arms. She initially attempted to rinse the hot contents from her skin but soon realized she needed immediate medical attention. The lawsuit indicates she suffered second-degree burns to her face, resulting in permanent scarring.

Levesque argues that the Ninja Foodi blender was defectively designed and manufactured because its rapidly rotating blades can generate heat and cause pressure to build inside the sealed blending cup, creating a risk of sudden explosions during normal use.

The blender also allegedly lacks a built-in pressure relief mechanism or indicator to warn users when dangerous pressure has accumulated. Instead, pressure can only be released by unscrewing the lid, potentially exposing consumers to explosions before or during removal of the blade assembly.

Levesque maintains these alleged defects expose users to severe burns and lacerations, yet SharkNinja failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks.

The filing also claims SharkNinja knew or should have known about the dangers but continued selling the blenders without correcting the defects, issuing a recall or adequately warning consumers, placing profits ahead of safety.

“As a direct and proximate result of Defendants intentional concealment of such defects, its failure to warn consumers of such defects, its negligent misrepresentations, its failure to remove a product with such defects from the stream of commerce, and its negligent design of such products, Plaintiff used an unreasonably dangerous blender, which resulted in significant and painful bodily injuries.”

— Nina Leanna Levesque v. SharkNinja Operating LLC

The complaint raises allegations of strict liability, negligence and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. It seeks compensation for damages including painful bodily injuries, physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, past and future medical care and treatment, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement and diminished enjoyment of life.

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