January 7, 2026 – A Frigidaire oven model FFEF3043LSK has been linked to a severe burn incident involving a two-year-old child. The incident, which occurred on October 9th, 2025, highlights a critical safety concern regarding a design flaw that reportedly allows access to the hot interior of the oven through a gap between the oven door and the drawer, even when the oven lock feature is engaged.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On October 9th, 2025, a consumer was utilizing their Frigidaire FFEF3043LSK oven to cook dinner. Despite the oven’s “lock” feature being engaged, their two-year-old child was able to stick their hand into a gap located between the oven door and the drawer directly underneath. The child sustained third-degree burns on their hand, necessitating an emergency room visit. The parent was reportedly only two feet away from the child when the accident occurred.
Upon review following the incident, the consumer noted that this specific gap appears to be present on “every Frigidaire oven” and also on several other undisclosed appliance models. The report emphasizes that such a design flaw is extremely unsafe, as it allows for immediate contact with the hot oven interior, leading to severe injuries in a matter of seconds.
Safety Concerns
The incident with the Frigidaire FFEF3043LSK oven raises significant safety concerns for consumers, particularly those with young children:
- Immediate Danger of Severe Burns: The primary risk is direct contact with the hot interior of the oven. Even at a distance, the heat radiating from the gap can cause burns, but direct contact, as reported, leads to severe, potentially life-altering injuries like third-degree burns.
- Ineffectiveness of Safety Features: The report indicates that the oven’s “lock” feature did not prevent the incident, as it failed to block access to the hot interior via the gap. This renders a key safety mechanism ineffective and provides a false sense of security to caregivers.
- Vulnerability of Children: Young children, especially toddlers, are naturally curious and may not understand the dangers of heat. Their small hands and inherent desire to explore make them particularly susceptible to this type of injury. A brief lapse in supervision, even when a child is nearby, can be enough for an accident to occur.
- Long-Term Health Impacts: Third-degree burns are extremely serious, requiring extensive medical treatment, including potential skin grafts, and can result in permanent scarring, nerve damage, and limited mobility. The psychological trauma for both the child and family can also be profound.
- Widespread Design Flaw: The consumer’s observation that this gap is present on “every Frigidaire oven” and “several [REDACTED] appliances” suggests a potentially widespread design flaw, affecting numerous households and increasing the overall risk to the public.
- Property Damage Potential (Indirect): While the direct incident caused personal injury, the underlying design flaw could hypothetically lead to other issues if objects were to fall into the gap, though this was not reported in this specific incident.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Frigidaire FFEF3043LSK oven or other Frigidaire oven models should take immediate action to ensure safety:
- Prioritize Child Safety: If you have young children, implement strict safety measures. Always maintain close supervision when the oven is in use. Consider using physical barriers, such as safety gates, to keep children out of the kitchen entirely when cooking.
- Inspect Your Appliance: Carefully inspect your Frigidaire oven for any gaps between the oven door and the drawer or any other accessible openings that lead to the hot interior when the door is closed.
- Exercise Extreme Caution: Even if your oven has a “lock” feature, do not rely solely on it for safety, especially if a gap is present. Be aware that the interior of the oven can remain hot for a significant time after use.
- Report Incidents: If you or someone you know has experienced a similar incident or identified this safety concern, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.SaferProducts.gov. Detailed reports are crucial for identifying patterns and initiating safety interventions.
- Contact the Manufacturer: Reach out to Electrolux/White Consolidated directly to express your concerns about this potential design flaw and inquire about possible solutions or modifications.
Manufacturer’s Response
As of the date of this post, the manufacturer’s response to this specific incident report is unknown.
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.