A Canadian appliance distributor has significantly widened a product recall in the United States following safety concerns linked to fire risks. The company, Curtis International, is recalling hundreds of thousands of Frigidaire-branded minifridges due to electrical malfunctions that could lead to property damage or injuries.
The expansion affects model EFMIS121, sold exclusively through Target, and brings the total number of recalled units close to one million. This follows an earlier withdrawal last year, which involved more than 630,000 other models after similar hazards were reported.
Electrical Faults Tied to Overheating, Fires and Property Damage
According to a notice issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recall has been extended to cover approximately 964,000 units in total. The latest addition includes 330,000 minifridges with the model number EFMIS121, which were sold in-store and online by Target between January 2020 and December 2023.
The Commission has received six reports of fires involving the newly recalled model, some of which caused property damage, though no injuries have been confirmed in this batch. The issue, according to the CPSC, stems from electrical components that are prone to short-circuiting, which can ignite the plastic enclosure of the appliance.
The initial recall, announced in 2023, involved 634,000 minifridges across several models (EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149, and EFMIS175) sold by Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers. That withdrawal followed 26 separate incidents reported to the Commission, including cases of overheating, melting, and fire. Two cases involved smoke inhalation injuries, according to the CPSC.
Consumers who own any of the affected products have been urged to stop using them immediately. Curtis International has outlined the refund process on its website, requiring users to cut the power cord, mark the appliance with the word “recall,” and provide photo documentation to qualify for a refund.
Target, Amazon and Walmart Among Major Retailers Involved
The minifridges involved in the expanded recall were sold at retail prices ranging from $30 to $40, with the EFMIS121 model available exclusively through Target for around $30, according to the CPSC. The earlier recalled models were available through multiple retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, priced slightly higher.
The affected fridges were manufactured between January 2020 and December 2023, a time frame covering nearly four years of production. The fridges were sold under the Frigidaire brand, a name owned by Sweden-based Electrolux Group, though the withdrawed products were made and distributed under licence by Curtis International, based in Toronto.
Neither Target nor Curtis International has issued public statements beyond confirming the recall and outlining the refund process. According to the Associated Press, both companies were contacted for comment but have yet to provide additional details.
Despite the high number of affected units, the risk remains confined to a specific set of models and manufacturing dates. Consumers are encouraged to check the model numbers and follow the CPSC’s recall instructions carefully. A full list of model numbers and refund information can be found on the Curtis International website and the CPSC’s official recall database.
