A Canadian appliance distributor has expanded a recall of Frigidaire-branded mini fridges in the United States, now affecting nearly one million units, following multiple reports of fires. Curtis International added 330,000 units to an existing recall on Thursday, bringing the total to approximately 964,000. This follows an initial recall of 634,000 mini fridges last year.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the fridges contain electrical parts prone to short-circuiting, which can ignite the plastic casing and pose fire and burn hazards. The newly recalled units, model number EFMIS121, were sold exclusively at Target for about £24 (converted from $30). The CPSC has received six reports of fires causing property damage linked to these products.
The 634,000 fridges recalled last year bore model numbers EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149 and EFMIS175. Those incidents included 26 reports of overheating, melting or fire, as well as two smoke inhalation injuries. The refrigerators were sold at retailers including Walmart and Amazon for between £29 and £32.
Owners of the recalled mini fridges are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Curtis International's website to request a refund. Eligible consumers must cut the power cord, write “recall” in permanent marker on the front door, and send photos to the company. The recalled fridges were manufactured between January 2020 and December 2023.
Curtis International, which holds licenses to produce and distribute certain Frigidaire products, is based in Canada. The larger Frigidaire brand is owned by the Electrolux Group, a Swedish company. The company has not yet commented on the expanded recall.
