The one label detail that tells you the recalled stove is in your garage

The difference between a safe stove and a recalled one can come down to a few characters on a metal tag you rarely notice. If you bought an electric range in the last several years, or you have one sitting unplugged in the garage, that label is the fastest way to know whether your appliance is part of a major safety recall tied to fires, injuries, and even pet deaths.

Why a tiny label suddenly matters so much

When a recall hits, the first thing regulators and manufacturers ask for is not a photo of your stove or a description of the problem, but the exact model and serial number stamped on its data plate. That string of letters and digits is the one detail that cleanly separates a recalled unit from an almost identical model that is still considered safe to use. In the current wave of range recalls, that distinction is not academic, because the affected products are linked to fires, burn injuries, and property damage that can escalate quickly if you keep using a problem unit as if nothing has changed.

Federal safety officials describe the current LG action as involving specific Slide-In Ranges and Freestanding Ranges with front-mounted knobs, all grouped under a formal Recall Details notice. The same notice spells out that these Slide, In Ranges and Freestanding Ranges were manufactured in Mexico and Korea, and that only certain model and serial combinations are covered. That is why the label on your stove, even if it is dusty in a storage bay, is now the most important clue you have about whether your household is exposed to a documented Fire Hazard.

The LG recall that put half a million ranges under scrutiny

The current concern traces back to a large recall of LG electric ranges that brought the risks into sharp focus for anyone who cooks at home. Regulators and the company flagged a hazard involving front-mounted knobs that can be bumped or turned too easily, which can energize burners without the user realizing it. In practical terms, that means a pot, a dish towel, or a cardboard box left on the cooktop can start heating up while you are in another room, turning a minor oversight into a serious fire.

Public safety summaries describe the affected products as Slide, In and Freestanding Electric Ranges, with the Name of Product explicitly listed as part of a broader notice that LG Recalls Electric Ranges Due to a Fire Hazard. A separate briefing notes that The Brief explains how About 500,000 LG electric ranges in the United States are covered, after reports of more than 28 fires, injuries, and pet deaths. Those figures are a reminder that this is not a theoretical design flaw, but a pattern of real-world incidents that can be prevented only if you know whether your specific unit is on the list.

The one label detail that confirms your stove is in the recall

From the outside, a recalled LG range can look almost identical to a safe one, right down to the finish and the layout of the burners. The only reliable way to tell them apart is to match the exact model and serial number on your appliance to the combinations listed in the recall documentation. That is the single label detail that matters: if both the model and the serial fall inside the published ranges, your stove is in scope, whether it is installed in the kitchen or sitting unplugged in the garage.

Regulators explain that this recall involves LG Slide-In Ranges and Freestanding Ranges with front-mounted knobs, and they provide a table of the following model and serial numbers, including specific sequences such as 312KMXXXXXXX, that define which units are affected. You are instructed to compare your tag to that list in the official Description of the recall. If your characters line up with those ranges, that match is the confirmation that the recalled stove in the news is the same one you have been storing or using at home.

Exactly where to find that tag on your range

Knowing that the model and serial are decisive is one thing, but actually finding the tag can take a bit of detective work, especially if you have never looked for it before. Manufacturers tend to hide these plates where they will not be damaged by heat or cleaning, which means you often have to open a door, pull out a drawer, or crouch down to see the frame. The good news is that once you know the likely spots, you can check most brands in under a minute without tools.

Guides for owners explain that on many Ranges and Stoves, the identification label is on the frame that is visible when the oven door is opened, a detail spelled out in a Solution that also covers Refrigerators and other appliances. A separate how-to aimed at Whirlpool users notes that if you pull out the warming drawer, the tag is going to be behind the warming tray, with the model number and serial number printed together in that spot, as demonstrated in a video recorded in Jan and shared as a Whirlpool oven walkthrough. If your range has a storage or warmer drawer, it is worth sliding it out and checking the frame there as well.

How LG wants you to verify your specific unit

Once you have the model and serial in hand, LG directs you to run those numbers through its own recall tools before you change how you use the stove. The company stresses that only certain electric range models and serial numbers are included, and that you should not assume your unit is covered just because it looks similar to photos circulating online. That is why the verification step is built around the exact characters on your label rather than a generic description like “stainless slide-in range.”

In its Electric Range Recall information, LG answers the question, “Which range models are included in this announcement?” by stating that Only certain models and serials are affected, and that the list is limited to units with a hot surface indicator light and front-mounted controls, all detailed in the LG Electric Range Recall FAQ. If you enter your numbers and the site responds that The model and/or serial number provided is not included in the recall, LG still encourages you to use built-in safety features like the Control Lock/Lock Out function, a point underscored in a separate notice that begins with the word Although and explains how to activate those protections in the online checker.

Why the garage, basement, or shed is part of the risk map

It is easy to focus on the range in your kitchen and forget about the one you moved out of service but never actually disposed of. A recalled stove in the garage can be just as dangerous as one wired into your main cooking space, especially if you plug it in for holiday baking, canning, or as a backup when you host a crowd. The same front-mounted knobs, heating elements, and wiring are still there, and the same fire hazard exists every time the unit is energized.

Safety bulletins on other appliances show how often products migrate from the main living area to secondary spaces instead of leaving the home entirely. A recall notice for September 2025 explains that Sunbeam Products Inc issued a recall for select Oster French Door Countertop Ovens due to safety concerns, and it notes that many of these Oster French Door Countertop Ovens are used on secondary counters or in garages, with a video guide for easy installation of replacement parts provided in the product recalls section. The pattern is similar with ranges: if you rolled an old LG unit into storage instead of recycling it, you still need to check that label before anyone plugs it in for “just one more” use.

Other brands show the same label logic

LG is not the only manufacturer dealing with range recalls, and the way other brands handle identification underscores how central the model and serial tag has become. When another major recall hits, the first instruction is almost always to locate that label and compare it to a published list, regardless of whether the badge says LG, GE, or a private-label name sold through a big-box store. The process is consistent because it is the only way to target repairs and replacements to the exact units that share a defect.

Guidance on how to Know if Your GE Range Was Recalled explains that a recent action covers 30-inch, 24-inch, and 20-inch free-standing and slide-in ranges sold under several names, including Hotpoint, Crosley, and Conservator, and that you must match your tag to the recall list to see if Your GE Range Was Recalled, as outlined in a recall explainer. A separate how-to for owners of Hotpoint and similar brands notes that you will find the model number on a tag on the frame of the oven’s opening once you Open the oven door all the way, and that the number may include a slash (/) or a dash (-), details spelled out in a Stove Guard guide. Across brands, the message is the same: the label is your proof of whether a recall applies.

How to use lockout features while you wait for a fix

If your range is on the recall list, you may have to wait for a technician, a repair kit, or a replacement, and that lag can be stressful if you still need to cook. One of the most practical interim steps is to use the stove’s built-in safety features to reduce the chance of an accidental burner activation. Many modern electric ranges include a Control Lock or Lock Out function that disables the controls, which can be especially useful if you have children in the house or if the hazard involves knobs that are too easy to bump.

Repair professionals advising LG owners emphasize that How to Stay Safe starts with using the Control Lock or Lock Out feature to prevent unintended activation, and they walk through how to engage that mode before you clean the cooktop or close the oven door following LG’s provided instructions, guidance that is laid out in a recall safety overview. Even if your model and serial are not included in the current Electric Range Recall, LG’s own checker notes that you can still use the Control Lock/Lock Out function as an extra layer of protection, reinforcing the idea that these software features are not just conveniences but important safety tools.

A quick checklist before you plug that old stove back in

Before you reconnect a range that has been sitting in the garage or basement, it is worth taking five minutes to run through a simple checklist built around that crucial label. Start by locating the tag, whether it is on the frame revealed when you open the oven door, behind a warming drawer, or inside a storage compartment. Write down the model and serial exactly as printed, including any slashes or dashes, and keep that note handy as you compare it to recall lists and manufacturer tools.

If your stove is a legacy unit sold through Sears, the original documentation explains that WARRANTY and SERVICE information is tied to the model and serial, and that these numbers are found on the frame in the storage or warmer drawer compartment, with instructions that WARRANTY SERVICE ISAVAILABLE BYCONTACTING THE NEAREST Sears service center in the United States, as detailed in an Electric Range Estufa el_ctrica manual. Once you have confirmed whether your model appears in the LG recall Description or any other active notice, you can decide whether to schedule a repair, request a replacement, or retire the unit entirely. The key is that you make that decision with the full picture, guided by the one label detail that tells you if the recalled stove everyone is talking about is the same one sitting quietly in your garage.

Like Fix It Homestead’s content? Be sure to follow us.

Here’s more from us:

• I made Joanna Gaines’s Friendsgiving casserole and here is what I would keep
• Pump Shotguns That Jam the Moment You Actually Need Them
• The First 5 Things Guests Notice About Your Living Room at Christmas
• What Caliber Works Best for Groundhogs, Armadillos, and Other Digging Pests?
• Rifles worth keeping by the back door on any rural property

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.