Jun 13, 2026
A worrying trend seems to be brewing in America’s kitchens. Consumer Reports has uncovered a rise in reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal government’s consumer safety agency, of exploding oven doors. They found hundreds of reports, and dozens of injuries, in the saferproducts.gov database, over a relatively short span.
Between January of 2025 and March of 2026, Consumer Reports found that CPSC received nearly 400 complaints about a potential defect that causes glass oven range doors from multiple different makers to explode, even while the ranges were off. More than 40 injuries have been reported.
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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.”
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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.
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“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.
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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.
Electrolux advises consumers to make sure to only close the oven door once racks are fully in place, and to make sure you’re not bumping or scratching the door with pans or racks, creating small flaws in the glass that could cause a problem later.
If you’ve already experienced an issue with your range door, here’s what to do:
- Document the damage, including any injuries. Take pictures of your kitchen, people, and anything nearby that might have been damaged.
- Reach out to the manufacturer. They may offer a replacement door, especially if the range is still under warranty.
- File your own report at saferproducts.gov.
- If you’re considering legal action, talk to an attorney and mention the class action lawsuit. They can help you with next steps.
Even if you haven’t experienced an issue, it’s worth checking whether your model has been cited in complaints. The Consumer Reports analysis of the complaint data identified specific models cited most frequently.
- Frigidaire: Model numbers beginning with FFEF, LFEF, and FCRE were cited most frequently. Injuries were reported in 29 incidents.
- GE: Model numbers beginning with JGBS and JGB7 were most common. Injuries reported in 4 incidents.
- Whirlpool: Model numbers beginning with WFG3 were most common. Injuries reported in 7 incidents.
- LG: No specific model numbers stood out. Injuries reported in 2 incidents.
- Samsung: No specific model numbers stood out. No injuries reported.
Check your range’s model number — it may appear on the oven door, interior trim, the back of the unit, or a nameplate in the drawer beneath the oven — and reach out to the manufacturer for more information.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
