LG Recalls 500,000 Electric Ranges After Fires and Pet Deaths

LG Electronics recalled approximately 500,000 freestanding electric ranges in February 2026 after 86 reports of unintended knob activation, 28 fires, more than $340,000 in property damage, and three pet fatalities. The problem: front-mounted control knobs that can be bumped, nudged, or pawed into the "on" position without the owner realizing it.

Samsung issued a nearly identical recall affecting 1.1 million units with the same front-knob design flaw. Between the two brands, roughly 1.6 million electric ranges are now flagged.

The Design Problem

Front-mounted knobs on freestanding ranges sit at counter height — right where a dog's nose, a toddler's hand, or a grocery bag can push against them. Unlike rear-mounted controls on slide-in ranges, there's nothing preventing accidental contact. The knobs on affected LG models rotate freely with minimal torque. No click, no detent, no resistance. A 15-pound dog leaning against the front panel can turn a burner to high.

The 28 confirmed fires happened when knobs were unknowingly activated while the owners were asleep, away from home, or in another room. Items left on the cooktop — cutting boards, dish towels, mail — ignited. Three dogs died in separate incidents when burners were activated while owners were at work.

What LG Is Offering

LG's remedy is a set of free knob covers (child-lock style) that snap over each control knob and require a two-step motion to turn. They're shipping directly to registered owners and are available through LG's recall hotline. Installation is simple — no tools required.

Samsung's remedy is similar: free knob locks plus a firmware update for models with electronic controls that adds an auto-shutoff after 12 hours of continuous use.

What This Means for Repair Pros

On service calls: Check whether the unit is on the recall list. If a customer's range is affected and they haven't received their knob covers yet, recommend they remove the knobs entirely between uses. The knobs pull straight off the valve stems on most models.

For shop owners: Consider stocking universal stove knob covers ($8-15 retail) as an upsell item. The recall has generated significant consumer awareness — customers are actively looking for solutions, and not all of them own LG or Samsung ranges.

Insurance angle: Some homeowner's insurance policies are flagging unmodified recalled appliances as a coverage exclusion. If a customer has a recalled range and hasn't installed the remedy, they could face claim denial in the event of a fire. Worth mentioning.

The Bigger Issue

The front-knob design on freestanding ranges has been a known hazard for over a decade. The CPSC has tracked accidental activation incidents across Whirlpool, GE, Frigidaire, and Bosch models as well — though not all have resulted in formal recalls. The industry has been slow to adopt rear-mounted or recessed controls as a standard, largely because front-knob designs are cheaper to manufacture.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently evaluating whether to issue a mandatory performance standard requiring knob guards or increased activation resistance on all new freestanding ranges. No timeline has been set.

For more on recent appliance safety issues, see our coverage of the Frigidaire gas range recall and Whirlpool dishwasher fire risk.