KitchenAid glass cooktop auto-activation recall 2019 — Whirlpool Corporation and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall on August 28, 2019 (CPSC Recall Number 19-189) covering approximately 26,300 Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and JennAir glass cooktops with touch controls. The cooktops’ surface elements can turn on by themselves, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.
Why this matters
The recalled cooktops have a defect that allows surface elements to activate without user input, producing heat on unattended burners. At the time of the recall, Whirlpool had received 133 reports of glass cooktop burners turning on by themselves, with 14 reports of property damage from heat, four reports of objects igniting, and two reports of minor burn injuries.
Affected units
- Brands: KitchenAid, Whirlpool, JennAir
- Total units: Approximately 26,300 in the United States (additional units in Canada)
- Type: Glass cooking surface with touch controls — radiant or downdraft radiant models
- Manufactured: December 2016 through July 2019
- Sold: March 2017 through August 2019 at Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, and other appliance retailers nationwide
- KitchenAid model identification: KitchenAid model numbers start with “K” — located on the bottom of the cooktop
Related civil penalty
In 2023, Whirlpool agreed to pay a $11.5 million civil penalty to CPSC for failing to immediately report this defect. Beginning in November 2017, Whirlpool received consumer reports of cooktops turning on by themselves but did not file an initial report with CPSC until mid-2019, after receiving at least 157 reports including 14 property damage incidents, four ignition incidents, and two minor burn injuries.
Recommended action steps
- Immediately stop using the cooktop and unplug it or turn off the breaker supplying the circuit
- Contact Whirlpool at (888) 900-7897 Monday–Friday 8 AM–8 PM to verify your model is affected
- Whirlpool will provide a free repair that includes a new user interface control or new cooktop as needed
- Do not leave items (cookware, cloths, paper) on the cooktop surface pending repair
Urgency level
Very high. Fire and burn hazard with documented incidents. Affected KitchenAid owners should stop use and schedule the free repair immediately.