Whirlpool range knob lawsuit (Davies v. Whirlpool Corporation)

A lawsuit filed in Michigan federal court on October 28, 2026, claims Whirlpool Corporation sold kitchen ranges whose front-mounted burner knobs can turn on from a light, accidental bump, and that the company kept quiet about the risk for more than a decade. The plaintiff, Steven Davies, says his own gas range switched on when he leaned over it and his shirt caught fire.

The case, Davies v. Whirlpool Corporation, No. 1:26-cv-03089, is a proposed class action for people in the United States who bought or otherwise acquired the ranges at issue, according to ClaimDepot's summary of the complaint. It asks for money for buyers and a court order requiring a recall.

The lawsuit is at its first step. Whirlpool has not filed a response, no judge has ruled on anything, and there is no settlement, payment or claim form.

Whirlpool Corporation is a home appliance company with roots in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It describes itself as the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances. Its brands include Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag and Amana, and it reported about $16 billion in net sales in 2025. Most people buy its ranges through appliance stores and other retailers rather than from Whirlpool directly.

The lawsuit targets ranges with front-mounted burner knobs sold under the Whirlpool name and other brands, including Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana and Roper, according to ClaimDepot. A range is a combined cooktop and oven. On front-control models, the burner knobs sit on the front of the appliance at about waist height instead of on a raised back panel.

Steven Davies is the named plaintiff. He says he bought a Whirlpool-made gas range that arrived in 2023. The complaint was filed by attorney Zachary Arbitman, and Law360 lists the firm as Feldman Shepherd.

The court is the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, a federal trial court. The docket shows the case was filed under diversity jurisdiction.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the federal agency that oversees the safety of household products. It is not a party, but the complaint relies on consumer reports submitted to its public database, SaferProducts.gov.

According to ClaimDepot's summary of the complaint, the court docket and public records:

• August 2011: A consumer filed a report with the CPSC about an Amana gas range, model AGR5844VDW, made by Whirlpool. She wrote that the knobs were "extremely easy to turn on inadvertently," that she had unknowingly turned on the gas three times in about four uses, and that once her home filled with gas overnight. The complaint says the CPSC sent this report to Whirlpool.
• May 2019 and June 2021: The complaint cites more consumer reports, including two about the same range model Davies later bought.
• 2023: Davies's gas range arrived. He says that soon after, he bumped the knobs while leaning over the range, a burner lit and his shirt caught fire. He says the range still turns on by accident at regular intervals.
• August 8, 2024: In a separate matter, Samsung and the CPSC announced a recall of about 1.12 million Samsung electric ranges because their front-mounted knobs could be turned on by accidental contact from people or pets. The CPSC said those ranges had been involved in about 250 fires.
• October 28, 2026: Davies filed his complaint with a jury demand. The docket lists an Exhibit A filed in two parts.

The Samsung recall did not include Whirlpool ranges and is background only.

The complaint alleges that turning on a burner should take two deliberate steps, pushing the knob in and then turning it, but that the knobs on these ranges need so little force that an adult, child or pet can turn them on in one motion. It says the ranges have no guards around the knobs and that the outer knobs stick out past the oven door handle. A gas burner that turns on unnoticed can release gas or start a fire, and an electric cooktop can heat to extreme temperatures, the complaint says.

It also alleges Whirlpool has known about the problem since at least August 2011, received more reports over the years and saw customer complaints on its own brand websites, such as whirlpool.com, maytag.com and kitchenaid.com. Even so, the complaint says, Whirlpool never mentioned the risk in its ads, sales materials or warranties. Davies says he would not have bought the range, or would have paid much less, had he known.

The complaint brings four claims: the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act, similar consumer protection laws in other states, and fraud by omission. It asks for compensation for buyers' losses, the cost of replacing ranges and parts, punitive damages, an order stopping sales and a recall with free repairs or replacements.

Whirlpool has not filed a response in court. Class Action Pulse found no public statement from the company about this lawsuit as of November 6, 2026. Its posted reply to the 2011 CPSC report asked the consumer to contact its product safety team and keep the range for possible inspection. That reply did not address the knob design.

The 2011 consumer also wrote that her retailer was told the knobs were made that way after people with arthritis complained they were too hard to turn. That is her secondhand account, not a verified Whirlpool statement.

Nothing has been decided. The latest public docket listing Class Action Pulse reviewed shows only the complaint, a proposed summons and the filing fee, all dated October 28, 2026. No judge assignment appears in that listing.

The court has not found that the knobs are defective, that Whirlpool hid anything or that anyone is owed money. It has not certified a class.

No class has been certified. Based on summaries of the complaint, the proposed class would include people who meet these points:

• Product: You own or owned a range with front-mounted burner knobs made by Whirlpool, including models sold as Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana or Roper.
• Purchase: You bought or otherwise acquired the range.
• Location: You are in the United States.
• Fuel type: The complaint describes risks for both gas and electric ranges.
• Not confirmed: Class Action Pulse has not seen the complaint's list of covered models or any purchase date limits.

If a class is ever certified, the court's definition would control.

1. Check your range. Write down the brand, model number and serial number from the range's rating label.
2. Keep records. Save your receipt, delivery paperwork and any photos, videos or notes about burners turning on by accident.
3. Reduce risk now. In its 2024 range knob recall notice, the CPSC urged people never to leave items on top of a range, because they can ignite if a burner turns on by accident. The notice also advised checking that knobs are off before leaving home or going to bed, and keeping children and pets away from the knobs.
4. Report incidents. You can file a safety report with the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.
5. Send an inquiry if you want. The form on this page sends your details to Class Action Pulse. It does not make you a plaintiff or class member.

Nothing is available now. There is no settlement, fund or claim form.

The complaint asks for compensation for buyers' losses, replacement costs, punitive damages and a court-ordered recall with free repairs or replacements. Those are requests, not results. Any payment or repair program would require a settlement or judgment approved by the court.

• August 2011: First consumer report cited in the complaint.
• 2023: Davies's range arrived.
• October 28, 2026: Complaint filed.

There is no claim, opt-out or objection deadline because there is no settlement. Under the federal rules, a defendant generally has 21 days after formal service to respond, or 60 days from the request if it agrees to waive service. The docket reviewed does not show whether Whirlpool has been served.

Consumer protection and fraud claims have time limits that vary by state. This proposed class case focuses on what buyers paid and replacement costs. If you were hurt or had property damage, you may want to ask a lawyer about your own options.

Class action: A lawsuit in which one or more people sue on behalf of a larger group with similar claims.

Class certification: A court's decision that a case can proceed on behalf of a group.

Fraud by omission: A claim that a seller hid or failed to share facts a buyer would want to know.

Punitive damages: Extra money a court can award to punish serious misconduct, beyond repaying losses.

Diversity jurisdiction: A basis for a federal court to hear a state-law case between parties from different states.

Front-control range: A range with burner knobs on its front face instead of on a back panel.

Davies must formally serve Whirlpool with the lawsuit. Whirlpool will then either answer the complaint or ask the court to dismiss it. If the case survives, the two sides would exchange evidence, and Davies would ask the court to certify a class. The case could also settle at any stage, or be dismissed.

Class Action Pulse will update this page as the docket moves.

This article relies on the federal docket listing, ClaimDepot's summary of the complaint, Law360's case listing, a 2011 consumer report on SaferProducts.gov, Whirlpool's company page and the CPSC's 2024 Samsung range recall notice.

Class Action Pulse has not reviewed the complaint itself. The allegations, claims, proposed class and requested relief described here come from ClaimDepot's summary. The covered models, model years and Davies's range model are not confirmed. The CPSC report is a consumer's own account, and the CPSC does not verify those reports. Whirlpool has not filed a response.

Class Action Pulse is not a law firm or settlement administrator and does not guarantee eligibility or payment. This article is general information, not legal advice.