October 21, 2026 — An incident has been reported involving a Gourmia GAF966 air fryer, which allegedly became a fire hazard, smoked, emitted a burnt plastic smell, and caused burn injuries to a user’s hands. Attempts to contact the manufacturer’s customer service were reportedly unsuccessful.
Product Details
Incident Overview
The incident report, dated September 27, 2026, details a consumer’s experience with a Gourmia GAF966 air fryer purchased from Target. According to the report, the appliance began smoking and emitting a strong odor of burnt plastic during operation. The air fryer also reportedly became extremely hot to the touch, causing burns to the consumer’s hands when they attempted to move the appliance outside for safety. The consumer stated they attempted to contact Gourmia’s customer service regarding the incident but were repeatedly ignored.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several significant safety concerns associated with the Gourmia GAF966 air fryer:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is a fire hazard. Smoking and a burnt plastic smell are strong indicators of an electrical malfunction, overheating, or internal component failure that could lead to an uncontrolled fire. The reported excessive heat to the touch also poses a severe burn risk to anyone handling the appliance. Smoke inhalation is another immediate danger, especially in enclosed spaces.
- Long-Term Risks: If a fire were to ignite, it could spread rapidly, causing extensive property damage to the kitchen and potentially the entire home. Depending on the severity, there could be structural damage, loss of personal belongings, and long-term displacement for residents. Victims may also experience lasting physical injuries from burns and potential respiratory issues from smoke exposure.
- Who Might Be Affected: Anyone operating the Gourmia GAF966 air fryer is at risk, as are other occupants of the household, including children and pets, who could be present when an incident occurs. Property owners face the risk of significant damage.
- Property Damage Potential: An electrical fire originating from an appliance like an air fryer can quickly spread to countertops, cabinets, walls, and other combustible materials in a kitchen, leading to substantial and costly property damage.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own a Gourmia GAF966 air fryer, or any air fryer exhibiting similar concerning behavior, please take the following steps:
- Immediate Steps: If your air fryer begins smoking, smells like burning plastic, or becomes excessively hot, immediately unplug it *only if it is safe to do so without touching hot surfaces or being exposed to flames*. If a fire has started, evacuate your home immediately and call 911 or your local emergency services. Do NOT attempt to put out an electrical fire with water.
- How to Check If You Own the Affected Product: Locate the model number (GAF966) which is typically found on a label on the back or bottom of the appliance.
- Prevention Measures: Always supervise cooking appliances during use. Ensure the air fryer is placed on a heat-resistant surface away from flammable materials. Never leave an air fryer unattended if you suspect it has a malfunction or if it has behaved unusually in the past.
- Reporting Procedures: If you have experienced a similar incident, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.SaferProducts.gov. You may also attempt to contact the manufacturer, The Steelstone Group LLC, although the original incident report notes difficulty in reaching their customer service.
Manufacturer’s Response
No manufacturer response has been provided in the incident report.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
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Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.