A consumer rights organization has issued a safety alert after more than 400 cases of exploding glass doors on electric and gas ovens were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in just 15 months.
More than 40 people were injured in incidents involving the exploding glass between January 2025 and March 2026, with the issue appearing to affect models from a range of manufacturers, according to Consumer Reports.
“One owner said it sounded like a small bomb going off,” Gabe Knight from the rights group told First Alert 4, who added that the problem usually occurs in used models that are typically four-to-six years old, often long after their warranties have expired.
Incidents have been reported involving ovens that are switched off as well as in ones that have just been used for cooking, with the precise cause of the problem yet to be pinpointed.
“Many of the reports we found allege the glass in the oven door shattered without warning,” Knight explained.
“Some describe it as spontaneous. Almost 70 percent of the incidents we found did involve Frigidaire appliances. But we also found reports involving GE, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, and a few others.”
Consumer Reports says it was told by Electrolux, Frigidaire’s parent company, that imperfections or damage to the tempered glass used in oven doors could be the reason for the fault.
The company added that its safety standards require that any glass used must break into small fragments with rounded edges, in the event that a fault occurs, to reduce the chance of injury.
The other manufacturers named all said their products had met safety standards.
As it stands, Samsung is the only company concerned that offers free repairs to address the issue, even if the warranty of the device in question has expired.
The CPSC said in a statement about the reported problem: “CPSC is aware of reports and takes them seriously.
“While the Commission cannot comment on any potential investigations, CPSC evaluates incident reports and other available information to determine whether a product presents a substantial product hazard under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
“The agency will continue to evaluate incident reports and other available information and will take appropriate action as warranted.”
Experts recommend consumers ensure their oven racks are pushed in firmly before attempting to close the door and that the door itself, when open, should not be used as a shelf on which to rest heavy pots or plates.
Users are also advised not to bump or scratch them with heavy crockery to reduce the chance of the glass sustaining scratches or cracks.
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