January 7, 2026 – A consumer recently reported that the glass door of a Black & Decker TO4225-OBD toaster oven exploded just two minutes into its first use, resulting in personal injury from stepping on glass shards. This incident highlights potential safety concerns with the product.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On June 23, 2025, a consumer experienced a sudden and dangerous malfunction with a newly purchased Black & Decker TO4225-OBD toaster oven. According to the incident report, the product was in use for approximately two minutes, marking its very first operation, when the glass in the door violently exploded. The consumer later reported stepping on a piece of the shattered glass while attempting to clean up the extensive debris. The incident occurred without warning, transforming a routine kitchen appliance into a source of immediate hazard.
Safety Concerns
The explosion of a toaster oven’s glass door presents several severe safety concerns:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary and most immediate danger is the projection of sharp glass shards. These fragments can cause lacerations, puncture wounds, and eye injuries to anyone in the vicinity. As evidenced by the consumer stepping on glass, even after the initial explosion, residual pieces can pose a risk during cleanup. Hot glass can also cause burns.
- Long-Term Risks: Injuries from shattered glass may require medical attention, potentially leading to scarring, infection, or nerve damage depending on the severity of the cuts. Eye injuries could have lasting vision implications.
- Who Might Be Affected: Anyone in the kitchen or close proximity to the appliance at the time of the explosion is at risk. This includes adults, children, and pets. Given that toaster ovens are common household appliances, the potential for widespread exposure to this hazard is significant.
- Property Damage Potential: Beyond personal injury, exploding glass can damage countertops, flooring, surrounding appliances, and other kitchen items. The force of an explosion can also impact the structural integrity of the appliance itself, potentially leading to further malfunctions or fire hazards if internal components are exposed or damaged.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own a Black & Decker TO4225-OBD toaster oven, or a similar model, please take the following precautions:
- Immediate Steps to Take: If you experience a similar incident, immediately unplug the appliance if it’s safe to do so. Clear the area of people and pets. Do not attempt to clean up glass shards with bare hands; use sturdy gloves, a broom, and a dustpan. Collect all pieces for potential evidence. Seek medical attention for any injuries sustained.
- How to Check if They Own the Affected Product: Locate the model number on a label, usually found on the back or bottom of your Black & Decker toaster oven. Compare it with “TO4225-OBD.”
- Prevention Measures: Until more information is available or a recall is issued, consider ceasing use of the Black & Decker TO4225-OBD toaster oven. If you must use it, operate it with extreme caution, ensuring no one is standing directly in front of the door during operation. Keep children and pets away from the appliance.
- Reporting Procedures: If you have experienced a similar incident or any malfunction with this product, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.saferproducts.gov. This helps the CPSC gather data to identify potential trends and initiate necessary safety actions, such as recalls.
Manufacturer’s Response
Spectrum Brands, Inc., the manufacturer of the Black & Decker TO4225-OBD, provided a response on January 5, 2026, stating: “Thank you for providing us with this information. The safety and satisfaction of our customers are our primary concerns. Spectrum Brands encourages consumers with any concerns about our products to contact us directly at www.prodprotect.com or by phone at 1-800-231-9786. We follow up on reported incidents and strive to achieve consumer satisfaction.” This response indicates an acknowledgment of the incident but does not provide specific details regarding an investigation or immediate action related to this particular model.
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.