Recent warnings have surfaced about oven doors unexpectedly cracking, even when the appliances are turned off.
A report from Consumer Reports revealed that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received 386 complaints between January 2025 and March 2026. This includes 40 reports of injuries linked to these hidden defects. Most were from Frigidaire, totaling 263, while GE had 63, Whirlpool 35, LG 15, and Samsung 10.
One consumer from Lewisville, North Carolina expressed disbelief, stating, “It sounded like a small bomb going off.” He described how glass shattered all over, highlighting that anyone nearby could have faced serious injuries.
Another individual recalled a “loud crash” waking him up to find glass scattered on the floor, despite the oven being cold. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but he was concerned for his five children who often looked into the oven.
Some ovens had been turned off for several days before the incidents. Investigation showed similar complaints have been accumulating for over a decade, including a 2015 case where a couple’s oven door exploded shortly after cooking a pizza. “You hear this crash… then the whole front of the oven exploded,” they recounted, still shaken by the memory.
Consumer Reports representatives were quick to hold manufacturers accountable. Gabe Knight, a senior safety policy analyst, pointed out, “Manufacturers should have been aware of these problems.” He emphasized that customers shouldn’t have to worry about such dangers in their kitchens.
When contacted, most companies insisted their ovens met third-party safety standards. LG acknowledged the reports but stated they found no grounds for action at that time. Electrolux, Frigidaire’s parent company, attributed issues to invisible defects in tempered glass, usually only detectable early in a product’s lifespan and asserted that typical breakages occur from user damage. They suggested that glass breaking is rare but acknowledged the need for stringent safety measures.
Additionally, Electrolux advised users against closing oven doors with racks protruding and to avoid striking the door with objects.
Samsung stood out by offering free repairs regardless of warranty, a move Knight urged other brands to replicate while criticizing those who claimed breakages were uncommon or fault of the user.
Consumer Reports identified at least 12 Frigidaire models—beginning with FFEF, LFEF, and FCRE—associated with these incidents. Affected users are encouraged to contact the manufacturers and report their experiences to the CPSC.
