Galanz Recalls 121,680 Retro Refrigerators After 34 Fires and 1 Death

Q: Could the popular retro refrigerator in your kitchen be a hidden fire hazard waiting to spark?

Yes—if you own a Galanz Retro Refrigerator from the affected production period, it could be a serious fire hazard. Galanz Americas has recalled about 121,680 retro-style refrigerators after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said internal electrical components can short-circuit and ignite. Federal regulators say they know of 34 fire reports tied to these units, including one death cited in a local fire department report. The recall applies only to 7.6-cubic-foot Galanz retro top-freezer models sold at Home Depot stores nationwide and on Amazon from January 2019 through September 2022. The affected model numbers are BCD-215V-62H, GLR76TRDER, GLR76TBKER, GLR76TBEER and GLR76TWEER, but only if the date code on the back label runs from December 2018 through December 2020. The label is on the upper left-hand corner on the back of the refrigerator and shows “Galanz,” the model number and the date code in YYYYMM format. If your refrigerator matches those details, safety officials say you should unplug it and stop using it immediately until it is repaired. Owners should not sell, donate or continue using the unit before the fix is completed. Galanz is offering a free in-home repair by a qualified technician. Consumers can call 888-462-0579, email customerservice@galanzamericas.com, or check the recall site at GalanzRetroFridgeRecall.expertinquiry.com. If there has already been damage, keeping photos, receipts and repair records may help with any claim.

3 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Jul 31

121,680 Galanz Retro Refrigerators are being recalled after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission logged 34 fire reports, including one blaze tied to a reported death.
Internal electrical components can short-circuit and ignite, creating serious fire and burn risks that prompted regulators to urge owners to unplug the units immediately.
The affected refrigerators were sold at Home Depot stores nationwide and on Amazon from January 2019 through September 2022 for about $330 to $520.
Date codes run from December 2018 through December 2020, and Galanz is offering a free in-home repair by a qualified technician.