Defective Gas Ranges Recalled For Burn Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled 24,000 high-end Wolf gas ranges because one of its two new ovens poses a serious burn hazard. According to a Sept. 3 alert issued by the CPSC, delayed ignition of gas in the smaller 18-inch oven can cause flames to shoot out when the oven door is opened. This could possibly cause severe burn injuries, the agency cautions. The company received 97 reports of gas ranges experiencing delayed ignition. Fifteen of those resulted in burn injuries, but there have been no reports of property damage.
This recall involved Wolf’s 18-inch stainless steel gas ranges with the model numbers P48, PS48 and R48. Made in the United States, these defective products were sold at home builder and appliance stores across the country between January 1998 and June 2008. Those who own these gas ranges are asked to stop using the 18-inch oven immediately and contact the manufacturer at 1-866-643-6408 or e-mail Wolf at range18.rework@wolfappliance.com. The company is offering free, in home repair to all consumers owning one of these defective ovens.
Although there are only 24,000 units that are affected by this recall, it is interesting to note that these defective units have been sold in retail outlets over the last 10 years. I would be curious to find out how long Wolf knew about these product defects.
Federal law requires manufacturers of defective products to recall them promptly and inform consumers about the hazards of the recalled items. Such delayed response is the main reason why more and more people get injured or killed by defective products – be it automobiles, tires, toys, gas grills or children’s furniture. Manufacturers must dedicate their utmost attention to quality control and adhere to state and federal standards,which require them to promptly recall any defective products.
