Almost one million Frigidaire mini fridges are being recalled in the United States because of fire risks. The company behind the recall, Curtis International, expanded its previous recall on January 15, 2026, to include a total of 964,000 units. This update adds 330,000 fridges sold at Target to the 634,000 units recalled last summer.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said that these fridges can overheat or cause electrical fires due to faulty parts. So far, there have been 32 reports of fires, though no deaths. These fires caused more than $700,000 in damages and sent two people to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. The fridges were sold between 2020 and 2023 at Target, Walmart, and Amazon for about $30–$40.
Many of these compact refrigerators are still in homes, offices, and dorm rooms across the country. Federal law bans the resale of any recalled product, but many people are unaware that their mini fridge could pose a serious risk.
What Went Wrong Inside the Fridges
The main cause of the problem is poor-quality electrical components made in China. These parts, especially the relay switches and compressor wiring, can short-circuit. When this happens, the plastic housing catches fire in seconds. The CPSC officially said: “Internal electrical components can short-circuit and ignite plastic housing, posing fire and burn hazards.”
Fridges with serial numbers from A2001 to A2310 are affected. Curtis manufactured these models for almost three years, and the defect appears to be widespread. Before July 2025, the company had already received 26 reports of fire, but an additional six incidents with a Target-exclusive model triggered this expanded recall.
Small devices like mini fridges are especially risky in tight spaces such as bedrooms or dorms because they run continuously and often overheat due to poor airflow. Experts say product recalls rose by 40% between 2020 and 2024, and about 20% of those recalls involved risks of fire or burns.
A Worrying Pattern in the Appliance Industry
This Frigidaire recall is part of a larger trend of dangerous mini fridges. Other manufacturers have faced similar problems. In September 2025, Epoca recalled 110,000 Paris Hilton beauty fridges, and AstroAI pulled its products after 70 fire reports, two of which caused $36,000 in damage.
Experts say rushed production and weak supply chain oversight are common causes. By the third quarter of 2025, recalls totaled nearly 259 million units, the highest in three years. Demand for mini fridges keeps rising, the U.S. market grew from $25.77 million in 2020 to $28.36 million in 2021, and global sales are expected to reach $5.5 billion by 2035. But as sales grow, safety standards seem to be slipping.
Curtis International, a Canadian company, makes these fridges under license from Electrolux, which owns the Frigidaire brand. However, Electrolux doesn’t manufacture or inspect these products. Curtis uses the Frigidaire name, but production happens in China, allowing both companies to distance themselves from quality failures. Consumers believe they’re buying from a trusted brand, even though the real manufacturer is different.
Consumers Struggle with Refunds and Safety Questions
Customers trying to return their recalled fridges face major frustrations. To get a refund, they must cut off the power cord, label the appliance “Recall”, and dispose of it properly as hazardous waste. Then, they must send photos to Curtis as proof. The company’s customer service center is open only four hours a day, and social media is filled with complaints about long wait times and confusion, especially from people who bought secondhand fridges.
Adding to the anger, neither Curtis, Target, nor Electrolux has publicly explained how nearly one million unsafe products were sold between 2020 and 2023. Despite reports of fires as early as 2022, stores kept selling the units until late 2023. Lawyers are now watching for potential class-action lawsuits, as recalls often serve as evidence that companies knew of safety issues. Selling recalled appliances, even unintentionally, can also lead to legal trouble.
Experts question whether voluntary recalls do enough to protect consumers. Many of these fridges operated for five years before any warning was issued. Overseas factories face few penalties, and U.S. enforcement agencies have limited power to act quickly.
With nearly a million defective mini fridges still likely plugged in across America, the recall raises serious questions. How many more could catch fire? And will manufacturers be held accountable, or simply move on to the next product? The Frigidaire fridge recall serves as a troubling reminder of what happens when low prices and trusted brand names mask hidden dangers.
Sources:
Future Market Insights, Mini Refrigerator Market Size & Growth Forecast 2025-2035, April 20, 2025
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Curtis International Recalls Frigidaire-brand Minifridges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards, July 24, 2025
CBS News, Recall of Frigidaire minifridges sold at major retailers expands to nearly 1 million, January 15, 2026
Boston Globe, Frigidaire minifridge recall: Here’s what to know, January 14, 2026
ABC News, Minifridge recall expands to 964,000 Frigidaires after fire reports, January 14, 2026