Thousands of KitchenAid electric kettles are being recalled due to the risk of burn injuries. According to a report on Today.com, if you bought a KitchenAid electric kettle between September 2013 and February 2018, your unit may be subject to a safety recall. On Feb. 20, the appliances’ manufacturer, Whirlpool, issued a recall of more than 40,000 kettles sold in the United States and more than 4,700 sold in Canada and 1,600 sold in Mexico.
Recall Details
The danger stems from a faulty handle, which could loosen and separate from the kettle causing hot contents to spill and posing a burn hazard. So far, Whirlpool Corporation has received 79 reports in the United States and 19 in Canada of handles separating and four reports of burn injuries. If you suspect that your kettle is part of the recall, you can search for it by model and serial number on the Whirlpool website. If your unit has been recalled, stop using it right away and contact Whirlpool for a free replacement. Kettle owners may request the replacement device via Whirlpool’s website or by calling 1-800-874-0608.
The number of Kitchen Aid kettles recalled is not as large compared with at least one other recent kitchen appliance recall. Cuisineart recalled 8 million food processors at the end of 2016 after a number of complaints that the blades were breaking off and causing injuries. Also, two major manufacturers of blenders, NutriBullet and Vitamix, have faced product defect lawsuits recently over allegedly defective products. However, no formal recalls have been issued by either of those manufacturers.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you are concerned that you may have one of these appliances in your kitchen, it would be a good idea to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website or Recalls.gov to find out if the product you have at home is subject to a safety recall. Consumer Reports also does a roundup of the biggest home and appliance recalls each year. You can also protect yourself by registering new products when you purchase them so the manufacturer can directly contact you if the product is affected by a recall in the future.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective home appliance, you may be able to file a product defect lawsuit against the manufacturer. You may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Source: https://www.today.com/food/kitchenaid-electric-kettles-recalled-due-burn-risk-t123750
