The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·85050·Announced 1985-10-10

Tappan and Montgomery Ward Gas Cooktops Recalled for Fire Hazard

Tappan is repairing gas cooktops made between 1971 and 1982 because corroded metal clamps may break, causing gas leaks and fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural defect in gas cooktops that has led to reported gas leaks and fires, meeting the criteria for 'Severe' severity due to significant injury/property-damage reports and structural vehicle/product defects.

Plain-English summary

The Tappan Company, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced a repair program for certain gas surface cooktops produced between 1971 and 1982. The affected units were sold under the Tappan, O'Keefe & Merritt, and Montgomery Ward "Signature" brands. The recall involves approximately 113,000 four-burner built-in gas cooktops, with about 65,000 potentially in use in Southern California and Nevada, particularly in mobile home applications.

The hazard involves metal clamps that secure the top burner valves to the gas manifold. These clamps, supplied by Robertshaw Controls Company, may experience excessive corrosion and breakage. If the clamps break, the gas valve can detach from the manifold, allowing gas to escape and creating a potential fire hazard. Approximately 50 incidents of breakage have been attributed to this issue, some of which involved gas leaks and fire.

Consumers with affected models should call Tappan at 1-800-624-2209 (or 1-800-841-6243 in California) to arrange for a free inspection and repair. The specific model numbers involved are Z-14-3622, 14-3621, Z-14-6311, 14-6311, and 14-3671 for Tappan/O'Keefe & Merritt, and KTM-3966, KTM-3963, and KTM-3960 for Montgomery Ward "Signature". Consumers can also contact the CPSC toll-free hotline at 800-638-CPSC for more information.

The recalled product

Product
Mongtomery Ward Signature gas surface cooktops
Manufacturer
O'Keefe & Merritt
Category
Consumer Product — Cooktops
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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