DeLonghi Manufactured Defective Heaters From 1980–1988

Fact: Between the years 1980 and 1988, the De’Longhi Appliances company created over 3.6 million oil-filled radiator heaters, which are now part of a worldwide DeLonghi Heater Recall and Replacement Program.

Fact: Because these heaters were manufactured in Italy, they were not designed for U.S. power sources, which have different voltage requirements.

Fact: This design defect has caused hundreds of thousands of these oil-filled radiator heaters to be replaced to prevent these defective heaters from exploding, causing fires, and causing them to emit black smoke.

Fact: Since 1980, more than 85 lawsuits have been filed to date against DeLonghi Appliances, who still says, “The manufacturer does not believe any safety hazard exists.”

Fact: A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warning was prompted by lawsuits filed prior to a 1991 recall notice, alleging that the heaters caused fires, some fatal. That heater recall has now become a heater replacement program.

Fact: If you own an oil-filled DeLonghi Heater that was manufactured between 1980 and 1988, you can — and should — participate in the DeLonghi Heater Recall and Replacement Program. Call 1-800-322–3848, cut the cord of your current unit, mail it back to DeLonghi America, and they will send you a brand new heater.

Fact: In a 1991 Press Release, DeLonghi “is taking action to correct what the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission considers to be potential fire hazards in some of the electric controls… after reports of electrical failures within some control panels which… could cause fires..”

Fact: This recall included these Delonghi oil-filled heater models: 9306, 9308, 9608, 5108, 5108T 4308, 5307, 4707, 3107, 3107T, and these serial numbers, which may be contaminated with PCBs: 86-20 or lower.

Fact: The new replacement heaters are built to current levels of quality and safety.

Fact: In December 2011, attorneys negotiated a confidential settlement in a case involving a DeLonghi oil-filled electric space heater, which was subject to an exceptionally inadequate recall effort nearly two decades ago – and was still being used by a young family. Their two-year-old daughter died as a result of a fire caused by the defective heater, while both of her parents were burned and injured by smoke in an effort to rescue her.

Fact: A CPSC memo stated: “The entire line of Delonghi “oil filled radiator” type of portable electric air heaters suffer from three design an/or construction defects which produce a risk of ignition. All three of the defects involve progressive deterioration of contact surfaces. Consequently, the risk of ignition from these defects increases with increased age and use of the heaters.

Fact: Because of all of these facts, the CPSC urges that all owners of the heaters manufactured from 1980 through 1988 to participate in the DeLonghi Heater Recall and Replacement Program as soon as possible. Just call 1-800-322-3848 to arrange for a new DeLonghi Heater. They’ll ask you to cut the power cord, mail it back to DeLonghi America, and they will send you an updated heater.