One million kitchen appliances, trusted by millions, were quietly recalled after they burned unsuspecting Americans in their own homes—leaving scars no warranty can ever cover.
Story Snapshot
- Over a million Oster ovens and portable car kettles recalled after dozens suffered second-degree burns
- Retail giants Walmart and Amazon implicated, alongside Costco and Bed Bath & Beyond
- Regulators intervened as manufacturers and distributors hesitated or failed to act
- Consumer safety, corporate responsibility, and regulatory power converge in a high-stakes recall
How Simple Appliances Became Kitchen Hazards
Walmart and Amazon, two of America’s most trusted retail behemoths, found themselves at the center of a national safety scandal when kitchen appliances they sold began sending people to the emergency room. The trigger: reports of Oster French Door Countertop Ovens and BLONGKY portable electric car kettles causing second-degree burns. These weren’t isolated mishaps—by 2025, at least 95 injuries had been linked to the ovens’ swinging doors, while car kettles spewed dangerous steam, scalding nine users. The recall, spanning over 1.3 million units, swept through households from coast to coast, exposing cracks in a system many believed was unbreakable.
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Portable Electric Car Kettles Due to Risk of Serious Burn Injury; Distributed by BLONGKY https://t.co/1C5zT1mfAW pic.twitter.com/dsyNsjVQ0Q
— US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) November 20, 2025
Behind the Recall: From Complaint to Crisis
The CPSC, established to shield the public from dangerous products, became the last line of defense as complaints mounted. For nearly a decade, Oster ovens quietly entered American homes through Walmart, Costco, and Amazon, their faulty doors a hidden menace. The BLONGKY car kettles, mostly sold online, delivered a different, yet equally painful, surprise—hot liquid and steam erupting at random. Investigations revealed that Maoming Huazhou Zibailong Technology, the Chinese distributor behind BLONGKY, failed to respond to recall requests, leaving U.S. regulators to urge immediate disposal without a formal recall process. In contrast, Oster’s parent company, Sunbeam Products, offered repair kits for the ovens, but not refunds or replacements, a move met with skepticism by consumer advocates.
Watch:
What Lies Ahead: Consumer Choices and Corporate Promises
The immediate impact of the recall is clear—those who heed warnings can avoid further injury. But as long as faulty products remain in circulation, the risk persists. Retailers now grapple with both the logistical and reputational fallout, while manufacturers must decide whether to invest in better design or risk future liability. For consumers, the episode is a stark reminder: even the most familiar brands can sell products that carry hidden dangers.
This recall will likely accelerate reforms across the appliance industry, from stricter safety standards to improved supply chain oversight. Whether these changes stick depends on continued vigilance from regulators—and from consumers unwilling to accept “good enough” as safe enough. Ultimately, the scars left by these appliances are more than physical; they are warnings that, in the age of mass consumption, trust must be earned and constantly renewed.
Sources:
AOL: Walmart, Costco & more recall over a million appliances after burn reports
CPSC: Warning on BLONGKY Portable Electric Car Kettles
AboutLawsuits: Amazon tabletop fire pit fuel recall
