Samsung Oven Lawsuit: Thermostat, Temperature Problems Stem from Defect
Last Updated on July 31, 2024
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Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
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At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who owns a Samsung gas or electric range that has a temperature sensor with the model number DG32-00002B.
- What’s Going On?
- A class action lawsuit has been filed alleging a defect is causing a range of temperature problems involving both the oven and the stovetop burners.
- What Problems Have Been Reported?
- Consumers have complained that their ovens take forever to heat up, won’t heat up past 150 degrees and/or can dangerously overheat without warning. Some have also reported that their stove burners won’t work, will lower to the point where they go out entirely and/or will get so hot (even on low settings) that food will burn.
- How Can a Class Action Help?
- A successful case could force a recall and provide consumers with money back for lost food, repair and replacement costs, and more.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Samsung Electronics alleging several dozen of its gas and electric range models suffer from a defect that makes it unreasonably difficult for consumers to use the appliances for their intended purpose – to cook food.
According to the suit, a problem involving the temperature sensor is causing the ranges to either not heat up or heat up too much, potentially to the point where they catch fire. Now, attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking to speak to people who have had temperature control issues with their ranges to help strengthen the litigation and get deeper insight into the extent of the problems experienced by Samsung customers.
Which Models Are Affected?
The Samsung gas and electric ranges at the center of the lawsuit contain a temperature sensor bearing the model number DG32-00002B. The suit alleges that at least 87 models are known to be affected. The full list can be found here.
What’s Causing Temperature Problems with the Ranges?
The lawsuit alleges that a defect exists in the oven’s temperature sensor, which works by varying the amount of resistance in electrical circuits linked to the control board. According to the suit, when the defect manifests, the temperature sensor cannot properly regulate this resistance, causing degradation of conducting materials, signal transmission delays and eventually circuit failure in the control board.
When the circuits fail, the lawsuit says, the control board either does not turn the heat supply on or fails to turn it off, potentially allowing for the oven’s temperature to increase to dangerous levels.
In addition, because the control board also regulates the temperature of the range burners, the burner temperature may differ from what the user selects should the alleged defect manifest.
Oven Complaints Include Temperature Fluctuation, Overheating
A number of Samsung customers have posted online about issues with their oven thermostats and stovetop burners. Specifically, they’ve claimed that their ovens take forever to heat up and won’t stay at selected temperatures, that the burners are getting too hot or not working at all, and that food is getting burnt or comes out raw. A sample of these complaints can be found below [sic throughout]:
I have an electric Samsung Oven/Range. Recently, the oven does not heat up well. I tested it recently and turned on the oven. The oven sounded the indicator within about 5 minutes telling me it had reached 350-degrees. However, the temp inside the over was only about 175 degrees. I kept the oven on for about 1 hours and it only reached a temp of about 300 degrees.”
— dprocket, ApplianceBlog.com
It takes an hour to get to temperature. Don't open the door! It will drop 25 degrees in a flash....and then take forever to come to temperature. Meanwhile my bread has flopped, my cake has not risen, and my baking is a disaster.”
— tpeters9742, cnet.com
The oven consistently overheats. I set it on 350, it stays on and keeps heating. Once it beeps saying it reached 350, if I wait 5-7 minutes and turn it off and set it to 550, it's already there. I've already replaced the thermostat and the oven sensor. Control board ‘looked’ okay, no signs of damage but I'm not an expert. At a loss of what to check next.”
— KaotikSilver, reddit.com
The oven takes hours to heat up to 200F. when set at 350. I replaced sensor boards and ignition still does not work. Now today the burners on top are lighting and slowly lowering until they go out!”
— lleslie18, cnet.com
the burners do not, and have never, worked correctly. it is four years old. oven stopped working. middle burner has never gotten hot enough to cook anything”
— Theresa, Samsung.com
The stove works, but not the oven. When I hit bake, it just says 150 degrees and the gas doesn’t turn on. Or sometimes the gas turns on, and I think it’s cooking, but it’s raw. When I hit bake again, the temp has dropped drastically.”
— usercuJ6urwFk1, us.community.samsung.com
I am tired of wasting food and electricity so am afraid to try to bake anything else. I had to throw out a lemon loaf which became a deep brown on top with the middle still raw after 45 minutes. The pizza burned on the edges and wouldn't cook through.”
— prairielily, cnet.com
So lately every time we try to use the right front burner it gets so hot we have to stop and not use it, so much so that we've stopped using all together.”
— MrSanc8, Applianceblog.com
Unfortunately, even consumers who have their stoves “fixed” will likely experience the same problems again as Samsung and its authorized technicians use the same defective parts during repairs, the lawsuit says.
Does Samsung Know About the Problem?
The lawsuit claims Samsung has “long been aware” of the thermostat issue as it has received complaints about the problem since at least 2015 and even dedicated a page on its website purporting to help consumers find a fix for their problems. The company, however, continues to deny the existence of a defect and suggests any problems with temperature accuracy must be caused by user error or routine calibration problems, according to the suit.
How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
The lawsuit is looking to force Samsung to issue a recall for the ranges or institute a free replacement program. Consumers could also be able to collect compensation for repair and replacement costs, lost food and other damages.
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