Curtis International, a Canada-based appliance distributor, expanded a minifridge recall Thursday to cover roughly 964,000 Frigidaire-branded units sold in the United States, after six fires linked to a newly recalled model added to dozens of incidents reported under a prior recall last year.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said electrical components in the affected fridges can short circuit and ignite the plastic casing, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Owners of any recalled model are urged to stop using the appliances immediately.
New recall: 330,000 Target-exclusive units
The Thursday expansion covers 330,000 Frigidaire minifridges bearing model number EFMIS121, which were sold exclusively at Target — both in stores and online — for about $30, according to the Commission. Six reports of fires resulting in property damage have been linked to that model.
The EFMIS121 units were manufactured between January 2020 and December 2023, the Commission said.
Prior recall: 634,000 units, 26 incidents
Thursday’s action follows a separate recall last year of approximately 634,000 minifridges under model numbers EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149, and EFMIS175. Those products were sold at retailers including Walmart and Amazon for between $36 and $40, according to the Commission. At the time of that recall, 26 incidents involving overheating, melting, or catching fire had been reported, along with two smoke inhalation injuries.
How to request a refund
Consumers who own any of the recalled models should stop using the fridges immediately, the Commission said. To request a refund through Curtis International’s website, eligible consumers must cut the appliance’s power cord, write “recall” in permanent marker on the fridge’s front door, and submit photographs to the company.
Curtis International and the Frigidaire brand
Curtis International holds licenses to manufacture and distribute a range of consumer electronics and appliances, including some Frigidaire-branded products. The broader Frigidaire brand is owned by the Electrolux Group, a Swedish company. The Associated Press said Thursday it had reached out to Target and Curtis International for additional comment.