SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20251001-4281F-2147327390. Severity: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional. Product: GE JVM6175DK6WW (GE JVM6175DK6WW 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-The-Range Sensor Microwave Oven). Incident: I replaced a GE JVM6175DK2WW model microwave oven with a newer model, GE JVM6175DK6WW model microwave. The older model had a cool-to-touch LED cooktop light. I was not aware that the new model, manufactured in 2025, uses a 50 watt halogen bulb. When the new microwave felt quite warm inside without being used for several hours, I began to investigate by feeling the inside of the oven, then the outside. As my fingers passed over the light source, I received minor burns on several fingers. I was alarmed that the outside of a microwave oven could get so hot. I checked the owners manual and found no warnings or cautions about this burn hazard, and no such warnings appear on the device. I thought that halogen light bulbs were no longer used in household products because of the many fires they have caused, and I am concerned about not only the personal burn hazard, but the risk of fire from something that hot. I searched online for similar reports and found many complaints in reviews at [REDACTED]. Some reported temperature measurement up to 270 degrees F, and some reported burnt paint inside the oven over the light bulb. I believe any household appliance that is that hot even when not operating is defective, hazardous, and should be recalled.