SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20220124-AD3BA-3577254. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Whirlpool SC8720EDB (gas cooktop). Incident: The consumer called the manufacturer and reported the problem to their rep. (name unknown). The rep. said that the issue of the burner not turning off, is a safety issue, and arranged for an authorized technician from Flamingo service company, Tel: 877-560-8485, to come out and inspect the range, on 1/26/2022. The consumer said this could present a gas inhalation hazard or a fire hazard. The consumer has also experienced problems with the pilot light (center burner) not lighting properly. Since he moved into the home, he has used a multi-purpose lighter, to ignite the flame on that burner, and has done so without injury. He reported that burner issue to the manufacturer several times and was always told this is an old range and it�s out of warranty. There is only a 1 year manufacturer�s warranty for the product. The consumer said that the part, which could have been made with steel is a spring, to turn the burner/pilot off and on. He inspected the range and the metal that is hooked on the slit for the valve, has deteriorated. Therefore, that part no longer has the ability to go through the slit and turn the burner off. The range was in the home, when he moved in, so he is unsure where it was purchased from or if that issue had ever been addressed/reported to the mfr. The gas company technician also turned off his oven, when they came out. However, he has never had a problem with the oven. To fix the valve, Flamingo asked for $500.00+, almost price of a new electric stove. So, consumer dismantled the cooktop screw by screw. Pilot wire was broken. Stove removed. Company refus