SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20251201-26C88-2147325974. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: WHIRLPOOL Model No: WMC30516HB 0 (WHIRLPOOL Model No: WMC30516HB 0 MANUFACTURED MAY 2023 Household Microwave Oven Black). Incident: I am writing to report a very serious and dangerous incident that occurred on November 30, 2025, my Whirlpool microwave Mode No. WMC35016HB 0 experienced a dangerous internal fire while I was using it normally. I had placed food in a [REDACTED] plastic container to heat it. While washing dishes at the sink, I heard a strange noise coming from that area loud enough that my cat ran. I walked over, removed my container, and inspected the inside of the microwave. Everything looked normal and there was no sign of a problem. Because I wasnt sure where the noise came from, I decided to test the microwave empty to see if the noise had come from the microwave itself. I closed the door, set it for one minute, and pressed Start. The microwave burst into flames immediately the moment I pressed Start, even with nothing inside it. There had been strange noises in the past, which I thought were coming from the turntable, but I now believe these noises were early signs of an internal electrical problem. This incident has left me deeply shaken. The fire happened instantly and without warning. If I had not been standing right there when it ignited, this could have turned into a full house fire. I could have lost everything. This experience has genuinely traumatized me. I am now afraid to leave a microwave or even my toaster unattended. I no longer feel safe using kitchen appliances after witnessing how suddenly this fire started. I am also extremely concerned that this could happen to someone else. If this defect occurs when a person steps away even briefly, the consequences could be devasta