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

LG Electronics recalled approximately 500,000 electric ranges on February 6, 2025 after 86 reports of unintended knob activation, more than 28 fires, over $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 in August 2024 affecting more than 1.1 million ranges with the same front-knob design issue. Between the two brands, roughly 1.6 million electric ranges are now flagged.

The Design Problem

Front-mounted knobs sit at counter height — right where a dog's nose, a toddler's hand, or a grocery bag can push against them. The recall covers both freestanding and slide-in LG ranges that put the knobs at the front; Samsung's recall is for slide-in models. The common thread is the front-knob location, not the cabinet style. The knobs on affected models rotate with minimal torque — little click, detent, or resistance — and a mid-size dog leaning against the front panel can turn a burner to high.

The confirmed fires happened when knobs were unknowingly activated while 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 away.

What LG Is Offering

LG's remedy is not a set of knob covers. LG is providing a free warning label and instructions for using the range's built-in Control Lock (Lock Out) feature, which disables the knobs until it's intentionally turned off. Owners reach the program at 800-399-3265, [email protected], or lgecares.com/rangerecall.

Samsung's remedy for its recalled slide-in ranges is a set of free knob covers/locks. (Confirm the current remedy for either brand on the CPSC notice before advising a customer — recall remedies can change.)

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 completed the remedy, show them how to use the Control Lock feature, and suggest pulling the knobs off the valve stems between uses on models where they pull straight off.

For shop owners: Universal stove knob covers ($8-15 retail) are a reasonable upsell for customers with front-knob ranges of any brand — the recalls have raised consumer awareness and people are actively looking for solutions. Just don't represent aftermarket covers as the official LG remedy.

The Bigger Issue

The front-knob design has been a recognized accidental-activation hazard for years, and incidents have been reported across multiple brands — though not all have resulted in formal recalls. Front-knob layouts are cheaper to manufacture, and the industry has been slow to move to recessed or higher-resistance controls. Whether that changes through a mandatory standard or continued voluntary action remains to be seen.

Sources

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "LG Recalls Electric Ranges Due to Fire Hazard" (Feb. 6, 2025). cpsc.gov
• LG recall information page. lgecares.com/rangerecall
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Samsung Recalls Slide-In Electric Ranges Due to Fire Hazard" (Aug. 2024). cpsc.gov