Mini fridge recall expands to 964,000 Frigidaires after fire reports

An appliance distributor is expanding a mini fridge recall that now covers roughly 964,000 Frigidaire-branded products sold in the U.S., after multiple fire reports.

Following a recall of about 634,000 mini fridges last year, Canada-based Curtis International recalled an additional 330,000 of another model on Thursday. According to a notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the recalled fridges have electrical components that can short-circuit and ignite the plastic used to make the product — risking fires and potential burns for users.

The 330,000 Frigidaire mini fridges now under recall carry the model number EFMIS121 and were sold exclusively at Target. According to the Commission, six reports of fires resulting in property damage have been linked to these products to date.

The 634,000 mini fridges recalled last year had model numbers EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149 and EFMIS175. An additional 26 incidents that included the products overheating, melting or catching fire were reported at the time, as well as two related smoke inhalation injuries.

Owners of the recalled mini fridges are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Curtis International’s website to learn how to request a refund. Eligible consumers will need to cut their product’s power cord, write “recall” in permanent marker on the fridge’s front door and send photos to the company.

Curtis International says the recalled fridges were made between January 2020 and December 2023. The EFMIS121 model fridges recalled on Thursday were sold in stores and online at Target for about $30 — and the Frigidaire-branded products recalled last year were sold by retailers like Walmart and Amazon for between $36 and $40, according to the CPSC.

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