Sharp Class Action Says Microwave Drawers May Catch on Fire

Sharp Electronics has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging a defect may cause some of its microwave drawers to ignite.

Lead plaintiff Erin Haight claims that Sharp manufactures six types of microwave drawers, all of which are susceptible to catching fire even during normal use.

Haight says she purchased a Sharp microwave drawer and began to use it in October 2016. However, in July 2017, even after properly cleaning and maintaining it, Haight claims that her Sharp microwave drawer started to spark and emit smoke.

The plaintiff says she got a replacement microwave, but it was plagued with the same issues. The Sharp microwave class action lawsuit claims Haight was never warned of the defect and she had no reason to suspect a problem.

“More specifically, the Microwaves are defectively designed and/or manufactured such that, under normal and intended use, the electromagnetic waves generated by the magnetron tube are unable to properly move through the waveguide into the cooking cavity, resulting in buzzing, smoking, overheating, and eventual destruction of the magnetron, leading to scorching of the waveguide,” the Sharp microwave class action lawsuit states.

According to the Sharp Electronics class action lawsuit, microwave drawers are appliances that can be installed in cabinets, countertops, and over-the-range. They average in price between $1,000 to $1,700, and include models SMD2470AH, SMD2470AS, SMD3070AS, SMD2480CS, KB6524PS, and KB6525PS.

The defective component of the microwave drawers, alleges the Sharp class action lawsuit, is the magnetron, a vacuum tube that generates the heat needed to cook the food.

Microwave magnetrons are powered by a high voltage transformer, but Sharp magnetrons allegedly contain a defect that does not allow the energy to be distributed properly.

“More specifically, the electromagnetic energy that originates from the magnetron tube becomes obstructed or disturbed while moving through the waveguide,” states the Sharp microwave drawer class action lawsuit.

Haight alleges that Sharp knows about the microwave fire risk, but continues to hide this information from consumers.

“At all relevant times, Sharp knew or should have known about the defect but nevertheless marketed, advertised, and sold the Microwaves without warning consumers that the Microwaves are likely to overheat and could result in buzzing, overheating of the magnetron, scorching of the waveguide, smoking, and ultimate failure,” contends the Sharp class action lawsuit.

The plaintiff alleges that it can take a mere 30 seconds for the microwave to overheat, leading to scorching of the back panel, smoking and even total failure of the microwave drawer.

Further, when consumers complain or return their appliance to Sharp, the company replaces the microwave drawer with a similar defective unit.

“The replacement Microwaves also fail, or are likely to fail in the same manner, leaving consumers fearful of additional smoke and fire caused by the Microwaves, and to contend with Microwaves that do not function as intended,” says the Sharp microwave class action lawsuit.

The Sharp Electronics class action lawsuit is seeking compensation for the defective microwaves, as well as for property damage caused by them and for the loss of meals burned by defective units.

The plaintiff seeks to represent New York residents who purchased a Sharp microwave drawer.

The plaintiff is represented by Jonathan K. Tycko, Hassan A. Zavareei, and Andrea Gold of Tycko & Zavareei LLP, Gregory F. Coleman, Rachel Soffin, Lisa A. White, and Adam A. Edwards of Greg Coleman Law PC, and Daniel K. Bryson, and Harper T. Segui of Whitfield Bryson & Mason LLP.

The Sharp Microwave Drawer Class Action Lawsuit is Haight v. Sharp Electronics Corporation, Case No. 3:19-cv-00371-MAD-DEP, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

UPDATE: The Sharp Microwave Drawer Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on June 20, 2019.