Recall of Frigidaire minifridges sold at major retailers grows to nearly 1 million

Curtis International has expanded its recall of nearly 1 million Frigidaire-branded minifridges due to a potential fire hazard risk. The recall now includes 330,000 minifridges in addition to the 634,000 units that were recalled in July 2024. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a notice detailing the recall, stating that internal electrical components in the minifridge can short-circuit, leading to the surrounding plastic igniting and posing fire and burn hazards.

The specific model being recalled is the Curtis International 6-can minifridge model EFMIS121, which was exclusively sold at Target stores and on Target.com from January 2020 through October 2023. These minifridges are red in color and have the word “Frigidaire” printed on the front. Curtis International has received at least six reports of this model catching fire, prompting the recall.

In a previous recall notice, which involved different Frigidaire minifridge models, there were 26 reports of minifridges smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating, and catching fire. Property damages resulting from these incidents totaled more than $700,000. The units in the initial recall were sold at Walmart and Amazon.com.

Consumers who purchased the model EFMIS121 minifridge are advised to immediately stop using it, unplug it, cut the power cord, and write “Recall” on the front of the fridge in permanent marker. When disposing of the minifridge, consumers should follow local and state regulations. Affected customers can visit www.recallrtr.com/minifridge for a refund, using the recall number 26-199.

For more information on the recall, consumers can visit the CPSC website or contact Curtis International directly. It is crucial for consumers to take this recall seriously to prevent potential fire hazards in their homes.