SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20251218-04F0E-2147325424. Severity: No Incident, No Injury. Product: Shark AZ 4002 (Shark vacuum model number AZ4002, color is a deep brown approximately 4 foot high). Incident: Subject: Formal Complaint Against SharkNinja Defective Vacuum and Unsafe Warranty Practices To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally file a complaint against SharkNinja Operating LLC (Shark Vacuum) regarding a vacuum cleaner I purchased in August [2025]. Since the time of purchase, this vacuum has experienced ongoing mechanical and operational issues, and it has now become a serious safety and fire hazard. Most recently, when the vacuum is turned on, the motor will momentarily engage and then abruptly shut down, while the units lights remain on. Additionally, the electrical plug becomes extremely hot during use, which raises significant concern about electrical failure and fire risk. Because of these safety concerns, I contacted Sharks customer service to request warranty support and to report what I believe to be a dangerous defect. I specifically explained that this vacuum may pose a fire hazard and requested that the company take the unit back for inspection so the defect could be properly evaluated and addressed. Instead of offering a safe and responsible resolution, Shark representatives instructed me to cut the power cord off the vacuum and throw the unit in the garbage in order to receive a replacement. I was told that Shark would not honor my warranty unless I destroyed the product, and they refused to accept the defective unit for evaluation. This response is deeply concerning for several reasons: 1. It prevents the manufacturer from examining a potentially dangerous defect that could pose a fire risk to consumers. 2. It forces customers to destroy evidence