Curtis International expands Frigidaire minifridge recall to 964,000

Expanded recall covers nearly 1 million Frigidaire minifridges

Curtis International expanded a recall of Frigidaire-branded minifridges sold in the United States after reports of fires, bringing the total number of products covered to about 964,000, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The expansion, announced on Thursday, covers an additional 330,000 units.

The CPSC said the recalled minifridges have electrical components that can short circuit and ignite the plastic used to make the product, creating a risk of fires and potential burns for users.

Model number EFMIS121 sold at Target

The 330,000 Frigidaire minifridges covered by the expanded recall carry model number EFMIS121. The CPSC said the units were sold exclusively at Target.

Regulators said they have linked six reports of fires that resulted in property damage to the EFMIS121 model to date.

The Associated Press reported it reached out to Target and Curtis International for further comment on Thursday.

Earlier recall involved 634,000 units

The expanded recall follows a prior action announced last year, when Curtis International recalled about 634,000 minifridges. That earlier recall covered model numbers EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149 and EFMIS175.

The AP report said at the time that 26 incidents involving the products overheating, melting or catching fire were reported, along with two related smoke inhalation injuries.

What owners are told to do

The CPSC notice urged owners to stop using the recalled minifridges immediately and to visit Curtis International’s website to learn how to request a refund.

Eligible consumers were instructed to cut the product’s power cord, write “recall” in permanent marker on the fridge’s front door, and send photos to the company.

Curtis International said the recalled fridges were made between January 2020 and December 2023.

Pricing and brand ownership

The AP report said the EFMIS121 model fridges were sold at both Target stores and online for about $30. It also reported that Frigidaire-branded products recalled last year were sold by retailers including Walmart and Amazon for between $36 and $40, per the CPSC.

Curtis International has licenses to make and distribute a range of consumer electronics and appliances, including some Frigidaire products, the AP reported. The larger Frigidaire brand is owned by the Electrolux Group, a Swedish company.