I’m someone who is constantly making sure the stove is off. Every time I leave the house, I question myself, Did I really turn it off? I’m certain I did. Yet, this worry nags at me until I return home and verify that it’s indeed off. This anxiety traces back to the incident in college when a roommate left the stove on all night with a half-eaten pan of tomato sauce. We woke up to a wrecked pan and a sigh of relief that nothing worse happened.
So, when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for certain stoves, I paid attention and quickly checked my own stove model—I suggest you do likewise. Electrolux is recalling roughly 203,000 electric ranges. The recall affects some models of Frigidaire and Kenmore, specifically the electric smooth-top freestanding ranges.
The recall occurred because some models have surface heating elements that may: 1) switch on by themselves; 2) not turn off when they should; or 3) reach heat levels other than those set. This could lead to fire and burn risks for users.
This is quite alarming. The recall involves Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional, and Kenmore Elite smooth-top electric ranges sold across the country between June 2001 and August 2009. These models feature back-panel rotary knobs and digital displays and are available in black, white, bisque, and stainless steel.
To locate the model and serial number of your stove, pull open the bottom drawer and check inside the frame. The models being recalled are listed below:
- Frigidaire: FEFBZ90GC*, FEFLMC55GC*, FEFLZ87GC*, GLEF396AB*, GLEF396AQ*, GLEF396AS*, GLEF396CQ*, GLEF396CS*, GLEFM397DB*, GLEFM397DQ*, GLEFM397DS*, GLEFM97FPB*, GLEFM97FPW* (Serial Number Range VF122xxxxx – VF936xxxxx), GLEFM97GPB*, GLEFM97GPW*, LEEFM389FE*, PLEF398AC*, PLEF398CC*, PLEF398DC*, PLEFM399DC*, PLEFMZ99EC*, PLEFMZ99GC*, PLEFZ398EC*, PLEFZ398GC*
- Kenmore Elite: 790.990121*, 790.990131*, 790.990141* ( Serial Number Range VF122xxxxx – VF334xxxxx), 790.990191*
What to Do if You Own a Recalled Product
If you have one of these stoves, avoid leaving items on the range when it’s not in use. Contact Electrolux immediately; they will repair eligible units when feasible. If the stove cannot be repaired, qualified consumers will receive a $50 electronic gift card refund and reimbursement up to $60 for disposing of the faulty stove.
To participate in the recall, contact Electrolux Group toll-free at 888-845-8226 from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday; via email at potentiometerrecall@electrolux.com; or online. Based on the serial number, they will confirm if your range is eligible for repair or not.
