December 17, 2025 – A recent incident report highlights a significant safety concern involving a GE Electric glass top range, model JB645RK9SS. A consumer reported that the front left burner control on their two-year-old appliance became defective, causing the element to continuously operate on high heat, regardless of the control setting. This malfunction led to charred food, excessive smoke filling the kitchen, and surrounding items becoming dangerously hot, ultimately triggering smoke alarms and indicating a severe fire hazard.
Product Details
Incident Overview
The incident occurred after approximately two years of service for the GE Electric glass top range, model JB645RK9SS. The user was attempting to simmer sausages over low heat using the front left burner. Unexpectedly, the burner’s control mechanism failed, causing the heating element to revert to and remain on its highest setting. This prolonged, intense heat quickly charred the food and generated a significant amount of smoke, which rapidly filled the kitchen. The heat radiated to surrounding items, making them hot to the touch. The user only became aware of the gravity of the situation when their smoke detectors activated. The report also notes that online research indicates numerous other consumers have experienced the exact same issue with this specific model, almost always involving the left front burner, suggesting a potential widespread manufacturing defect.
Safety Concerns
The malfunction described presents extreme and immediate safety concerns for consumers.
- Immediate Dangers: The primary and most severe risk is a fire hazard. An uncontrolled heating element operating at high heat can quickly ignite food, cooking oils, or nearby combustible materials, leading to a kitchen fire. This incident resulted in charred food and excessive smoke, demonstrating the rapid progression to a dangerous situation.
- Smoke and Inhalation Risks: The generation of significant smoke, as reported, poses a risk of smoke inhalation, which can cause respiratory issues, carbon monoxide poisoning, or even asphyxiation, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions or children.
- Burn Hazards: Surfaces surrounding the range, including countertops, cabinets, and other kitchen items, became hot to the touch, indicating a serious burn risk to anyone who might inadvertently contact them.
- Property Damage Potential: Beyond personal injury, an uncontrolled kitchen fire can rapidly spread, leading to extensive property damage to the home and its contents.
- Widespread Issue: The consumer’s discovery of “many reports online of others with the exact same issue with this exact model stove, and nearly always the left front burner” suggests a potential manufacturing defect affecting a significant number of units. This elevates the risk from an isolated incident to a broader systemic problem that could endanger numerous households.
What Consumers Should Do
Given the serious nature of this reported incident and the potential for a widespread defect, consumers who own a GE Electric glass top range, particularly model JB645RK9SS, should take the following precautions:
- Immediately Stop Use: If you experience any similar issues with a burner control not cycling or remaining on high heat, immediately stop using the appliance. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the range if you cannot turn it off safely at the unit.
- Check Your Model: Verify if your GE Electric glass top range is model JB645RK9SS. The model number is typically located on a label around the oven door frame, inside the storage drawer, or on the back of the unit.
- Monitor Appliance Performance: Pay close attention to how your burners operate. If a burner seems unusually hot, doesn’t cycle, or fails to respond to control settings, discontinue use.
- Report the Incident: If you have experienced a similar malfunction or any other safety issue with this product, it is crucial to report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Your report helps identify patterns and prompt investigations or recalls.
- Contact the Manufacturer: Reach out to GE Appliances to report the issue and inquire about potential repairs or replacements.
Manufacturer’s Response
As of the incident report date, the manufacturer, GE Appliances, a Haier company, has not provided a response regarding this specific incident or the reported widespread issue.
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.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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.