SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20240830-E61BB-2147336842. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: SHARP Carousel SMC1452CH (Sharp Carousel Black Stainless Countertop Microwave Oven SMC1452CH 1.4 cu ft 1100watts). Incident: SHARP SMC1452CH Carousel 1.4cuft 1100 watt Microwave purchased mid-2020 from Lowes. Home Improvement. At least twice in past year magnetron continues to operate and heat food after timer stops after turntable stops and after interior light goes out creating risk of fire if user is unaware of continued heating in the dark microwave or has left the area. Microwave was set on half power and 4mins to reheat 2nd portion of pre-packaged cardboard tray of [REDACTED] chicken cobbler. Saran Wrap was over unsealed original clear food covering and cardboard tray. Started micro left area for 9 mins and returned to micro still buzzing loudly, timer had stopped, time of day displayed and interior was dark. This time was able to take video of magnetron buzzing, dark interior and pressing keypad STOP button several times without result. Video also shows door opening with Saran Wrap covering raised by steam at 3inch height over food tray with lots of steam and/or smoke rolling out of micro. Photo of food tray shows original clear cover and sticker melted away/ burned off due to heating malfunction. Not in video: Closing the door caused the magnetron buzzing to restart yet keypad had not been pressed, interior was dark and turntable did not rotate. Interior bulb lights normally before and after malfunction. Micro must be unplugged and wait couple mins so the keypad functions again. It appears the internal electronics and/or door latch malfunction intermittently. Second issue: Since purchased new in 2020 the micro door is difficult to pull open as the latch is very tight. Latch is so tight th