Samsung Over-the-Range Microwaves Recalled Due to Shock Hazard

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #10031) was formally reported on November 5, 2009. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Samsung Electronics America Inc., of Ridgefield Park, N.J. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 43,000 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: If an installation bolt comes in contact with an electrical component inside the unit and the microwave is plugged into an ungrounded outlet, it could create a shock hazard. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the recalled product, and contact Samsung to schedule a free repair. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 17 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.