Whirlpool Class Action Alleges Self-Cleaning Oven Defect

A class action lawsuit recently filed against the Whirlpool Corporation alleges that Whirlpool and KitchenAid brand wall ovens overheat and stop working because of a defect in the self-cleaning feature.

The complaint alleges that Whirlpool knew about this defect and hid it from consumers.

The class action lawsuit asserts that Whirlpool wall ovens “contain a design defect wherein, due to the use of inappropriate and inadequate heat-resistant and heat-regulating internal components, the Class Ovens’ thermostat, thermal fuses, control panel, motherboard, door glass, door latch, and/or other internal components short-circuit, overheat, or otherwise break during normal operation of the High Temp Self-Cleaning Cycle.”

According to the complaint, because of this defect “the ovens often remain locked and completely non-functional.”

The Whirlpool oven self-cleaning defect class action contends that the company has been aware of this defect since 2000.

The lawsuit cites numerous “technical service pointers” Whirlpool has issued to its service department to deal with problems arising from the self-cleaning feature of its wall ovens.

In fact, in 2011 Whirlpool issued a bulletin that states their oven thermostats could be “exposed to hot air or power interruption during the self-clean cycle and instructed service technicians to replace the rear oven thermostat and blower assembly,” according to the class action.

Separately, Whirlpool allegedly issued another bulletin in 2012 confirming that KitchenAid wall ovens could have their door latch deform during the self-cleaning cycle.

However, the class action argues that Whirlpool’s recommended service only perpetuates the problem, because they use the same defective parts to try to fix the broken ovens.

In addition, consumers often have to pay for repairs themselves, the complaint alleges.

Plaintiffs Reginald and Joann Whitley state that they purchased a new KitchenAid wall oven in September of 2013.

The Whitleys claim that they spent time with the sales representative comparing the safety and reliability of different ovens, and had Whirlpool disclosed the known defect in the self-cleaning cycle, they would not have purchased that oven.

In January of 2015, the Whitleys say they used the high temp self-cleaning cycle on their oven for the first time and the glass door cracked. They replaced the door for $119 and continued to use the oven, they claim.

But in July 2016, Joann allegedly tried using the self-cleaning cycle again, and as a result their oven stopped working all together and would not open.

The Whirlpool oven self-cleaning defect lawsuit seeks to certify a Class of “All individuals in the United States who purchased any Whirlpool or KitchenAid Built-In Single, Double or Combo wall oven equipped with a High Temp Self-Cleaning Cycle.”

The class action requests a court order requiring Whirlpool to notify all Class Members of the defect and to cease its deceptive sales practices.

In addition, the lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for all harmed consumers.

The plaintiffs are represented by Cody R. Padgett, Jordan L. Lurie, Robert Friedl, Tarek H. Zohdy, and Karen L. Wallace of Capstone Law APC.

The Whirlpool Oven Self-Cleaning Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Reginald Whitley, et al. v. Whirlpool Corporation, Case No. 8:16-cv-01704, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.