Whirlpool Class Action Says Self-Cleaning Ovens Are Defective

Whirlpool Corp. is facing a class action lawsuit that takes issue with the allegedly false advertising of Whirlpool-brand ovens that feature a High-Temperature Self-Cleaning Cycle.

Plaintiff Nancy Turgeon of Sacramento, Calif., says she purchased a Whirlpool self-cleaning oven after reviewing the oven’s features, including the “Precise Clean” feature. According to the Whirlpool class action lawsuit, she relied on the following representations when making her purchasing decision:

“The Precise Clean cleaning system tracks the time between self-clean cycles to determine the right cycle time. This makes sure the self-cleaning cycle only lasts as long as necessary for optimal cleaning and energy savings. No harsh chemicals or cleaners are required.”

The Whirlpool self-cleaning cycle was advertised as heating the oven to very high temperatures that would burn up drips and other residue within the oven into a “powdery ash.”

Turgeon claims that she saw these representations about the self-cleaning capabilities of the oven before she made her purchase. She understood them to mean that the High-Temperature Self-Cleaning feature would clean the oven without the use of harsh chemicals.

Further, Whirlpool’s Use & Care Guide actually instructs consumers not to use commercial oven cleaners and to only use the self-cleaning cycle to clean the oven. Given these warnings and representations, Turgeon says she expected the high-temperature self-cleaning cycle to effectively clean her oven without the need for cleansers.

However, the Whirlpool self-cleaning oven class action lawsuit alleges the high-temperature self-cleaning cycle fails to operate as promised due to a defect that impairs the functionality of the oven.

“Due to the use of inappropriate and inadequate heat-resistant and heat-regulating internal components, the extreme temperatures of the High-Temperature Self-Cleaning Cycle causes the Ovens’ thermostat, thermal fuses, control panel, motherboard, door glass, door latch, and/or other internal components to short-circuit, overheat, or otherwise break during normal use,” the Whirlpool self-cleaning oven class action lawsuit asserts.

“Furthermore, because of the Self-Cleaning Defect, the High-Temperature Self-Cleaning Cycle is unusable and worthless,” Turgeon complains. She claims that Whirlpool has known about the defect for years but has failed to correct the problem or inform consumers about the issue.

Turgeon maintains that reasonable consumers expect that the High-Temperature Self-Cleaning Cycle will function as promised and will not adversely affect the functionality of the oven. She claims she paid a premium for the oven, and that she would not have purchased it if she had known it was equipped with defective components.

By filing the Whirlpool class action lawsuit, Turgeon seeks to represent a nationwide Class and a California subclass of consumers who purchased Whirlpool ovens featuring the High-Temperature Self-Cleaning Cycle.

The Whirlpool self-cleaning oven class action lawsuit asserts violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, breach of express warranty, breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, intentional misrepresentation and fraud. On behalf of the proposed California subclass, Turgeon alleges violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law.

Turgeon is represented by L. Timothy Fisher and Scott A. Bursor of Bursor & Fisher PA.

The Whirlpool Self Cleaning Oven Class Action Lawsuit is Nancy Turgeon v. Whirlpool Corp., Case No. 2:17-cv-00473-MCE-AC, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.