Lawsuit Investigation into LG Dryer Fire Risk

Attorneys would like to speak to anyone who owned an LG dryer and had it catch on fire.

They have reason to believe a defect in the dryers is allowing lint to build up in areas that aren’t accessible to the user, thereby creating a substantial fire hazard. The attorneys are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed over the issue – but first need to hear from people who had their LG dryers catch fire before they can take any action against the manufacturer.

You may be able to help get a class action lawsuit started to get your money back for your machine and any damage it caused.

What Could Cause a Dryer Fire?

A number of issues can cause a dryer to catch fire, including control board issues, faulty gas valves or wiring, and thermostat problems. Attorneys believe, however, that some fires in LG dryers are being caused by a design defect in the machines.

Specifically, the design of these dryers may allow lint to bypass the collection vent, build up behind the drum (the part that surrounds the clothing chamber) and come in contact with the machine’s heat source. Attorneys believe that because the area where the lint can collect is inaccessible, consumers would never know that their clothes dryers are suffering from this problem.

What Problems Have People Reported with their LG Dryers?

Some of the complaints posted online include (sic throughout):

“Last night while doing laundry, my LG electric dryer of the last 4 year, the cord connecting in the back of the dryer caught fire and melted. Thank goodness we were home and the dryer shut off with no further damage to the house other than the wire and casing in the back of the dryer completely melting.”
— Candice, Fair Lawn, NJ, ConsumerAffairs.com

“My LG dryer is leaking gas from somewhere and I had the gas company come out to isolate that the issue isn't with the gas line or connection. He confirmed something is wrong with the dryer, marked it a fire hazard, and unplugged it. Furthermore, we had our dryer duct cleaned to remove the possibility that it was a blocked vent.”
— Jeremy, Irvine, CA, ConsumerAffairs.com

“I bought a washer/dryer from LG and after 6 months dryer smells like the clothes are burning and does not dry clothes. I called LG and they have the date I purchased the dryer which was within a year but because I could not locate receipt they would not help me. My new house could have started on fire.”
— Kelly, Kewaskum, WI, ConsumerAffairs.com

“Recently, our DLG6988s dryer (part of a combo) stopped heating. Everything seemed to be working, but no heat! We called the point of purchase (POP) company. We had purchased a 4-year extended warranty program with them. The company provided a work order for repair. The repair diagnosis, full replacement as there had been a fire because the lint was not leaving the dryer but instead, getting in around the drum and the harness was damaged. There was no lint in the tube, none in the lint catch area. It was around the drum instead.”
— Thersa, New Market, ON, ConsumerAffairs.com

How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?

In May 2013, appliance maker Electrolux agreed to settle a lawsuit that alleged a similar issue with lint accumulation and paid consumers up to $1,300 for any lost or damaged property related to a dryer fire.

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