More oven doors are exploding without warning — even with the heat off, Consumer Reports says. Dozens have been injured

However, St. Lois KMOV 14 reported incidents of shattering oven glass dating back to 2013.

“I woke up to a loud crash sound, and saw all the glass on the floor,” wrote one consumer. “Our oven was cold to the touch. There were no injuries because everyone was asleep… but I have five children who peer into the oven regularly and if this had happened while they were close, I can’t imagine the damage it could have done to their eyes or face.”

“It sounded like a small bomb went off,” another from Lewisville, N.C. shared.“Glass shot all over the floor and across the room. Anyone standing close to the oven could have been seriously injured.”

Which ranges are involved and what manufacturers are doing

The Consumer Reports team says that most of the reports involved Frigidaire ranges, but several other brands had similar issues. According to their research, 263 of the complaints cited Frigidaire ranges, while 63 were GE, 35 were Whirlpool, 15 were LG, and 10 were from Samsung.

Even more concerningly, many of the explosions allegedly occurred while the ranges had been off, sometimes for days, meaning the temperature change in a working oven was unlikely to be the culprit.

“While these glass-shattering incidents caught range owners by surprise, it’s clear that manufacturers should have known about this issue,” Gabe Knight, a senior safety policy analyst for Consumer Reports, said. “No one should have to worry about whether there’s a ticking time bomb in their kitchen.”

Consumer Reports also reached out to the manufactures for more information, including about potential recalls. Samsung, Whirlpool, GE, and Electrolux (the parent company of Frigidaire) all replied saying that their products all “meet third-party safety standards.”

LG, meanwhile, responded saying the company is aware of the incidents but “has not identified a basis at this time for additional action.”

Samsung noted that the company offers “free-of-charge range oven glass door repairs (including parts and labor) regardless of warranty status in the unlikely event an incident occurs,” while Electrolux said these types of incidents are generally caused by imperfections in the glass and are covered by warranty if they happen in the first year.

So far, no recalls have been issued by any of the brands.

A class action lawsuit against Electrolux has been filed in Delaware, with plans to expand nationwide.

“Despite numerous customer complaints — including those directly posted on Electrolux’s own website — Electrolux refused to take action in the form of a recall or refund of the full purchase price,” the lawsuit states. The parties reached a preliminary agreement in March.

What consumers can do today

While spontaneous explosions are concerning, it may be reassuring to hear how rare these incidents are. The U.S. range cooker market had an estimated value of $1.86 billion in 2024. A few hundred ovens, out of millions, had this problem. Still, it’s understandably scary.