The recall covers several 3RC-series models with fixed power cords that were sold nationwide and online from December 2015 through July 2016 for about $30 to $70.
As of September 2026, CPSC states that the original recall remedy is no longer available because the firm lacks the financial resources to fund it. Consumers are now instructed to stop using, destroy, and discard the affected cookers.
Quick Facts
- About 175,000 recalled 3 Squares cookers were sold in the United States, with about 100 additional units sold in Canada.
- Improperly installed wiring can cause electrical shorting, creating fire and electric-shock hazards.
- CPSC reports three incidents and one shock injury involving the recalled cookers.
- The current CPSC recall record states that no replacement remedy remains available.
Table Of Contents
- Latest 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Recall and Safety Developments
- What Are 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cookers?
- Why Were 3 Squares Cookers Recalled?
- Which 3 Squares Models Are Recalled?
- How Many 3 Squares Cookers Were Recalled?
- How Many Incidents and Injuries Were Reported?
- Where Were the Recalled Cookers Sold?
- Who Imported and Distributed the Cookers?
- What Is the Current Recall Remedy?
- Why Can Electrical Shorting Cause a Fire?
- How Can an Electric Shock Injury Occur?
- What Was the Sherwood Marketing v. Intertek Case?
- What Evidence May Matter in a Cooker Fire or Shock Claim?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Who May Be Liable?
- Do I Qualify?
- What Evidence Should I Preserve?
- Do I Have a 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Lawsuit?
- Important Legal Actions or Recalls
- Potential Compensation
- Legal Process Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions About the 3 Squares Cooker Recall
- Do I Have a 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Lawsuit?
- What Evidence May Support a 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Lawsuit?
- Which 3 Squares Cookers Were Recalled?
- Why Were the Cookers Recalled?
- How Many Cookers Were Recalled?
- How Many Incidents Were Reported?
- Is the Original Recall Remedy Still Available?
- Where Were the Recalled Cookers Sold?
- References
Latest 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Recall and Safety Developments
September 2026
- September 8, 2026 – CPSC’s current recall record states that the remedy is no longer available because the firm does not have the financial resources to fund the recall. The agency instructs consumers to immediately stop using the affected cookers, destroy them, and discard them [1]
August 2018
- August 20, 2018 – A federal court dismissed with prejudice Sherwood Marketing Group’s lawsuit against Intertek Testing Services concerning alleged misrepresentations about safety testing of 3 Squares rice cookers. The case involved Sherwood’s business claims against the testing company and was not a consumer personal-injury judgment [2]
October 2016
- October 21, 2016 – Intertek published a public notice confirming the voluntary recall of 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 and Mini Tim3 Machin3 cookers with affected 3RC model numbers and approximately 175,000 U.S. units [3]
- October 18, 2016 – CPSC announced the recall after improperly installed wiring was found capable of causing electrical shorting, fire, and electric shock. Three incidents had been reported, including sparking and a cooker turning itself on, along with one shock injury [1]
What Are 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cookers?
3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 and Mini Tim3 Machin3 products are programmable electric rice and slow cookers that were sold in 20-cup/4-quart and 8-cup/1.7-quart capacities.
CPSC describes the recalled units as stainless steel with black molded plastic, a front control panel, and a fixed power cord. The cookers measure approximately 11 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall.
Why Were 3 Squares Cookers Recalled?
The defect involves improperly installed internal wiring.
CPSC states that the wiring can cause an electrical short inside the cooker, creating both a fire hazard and an electric-shock hazard.
The problem is internal, so a cooker may appear normal before an electrical failure occurs.
Which 3 Squares Models Are Recalled?
The recall covers model numbers beginning with 3RC and ending in the following identifiers:
- 3010S
- 3020S
- 3434
- 5020
- 9010S
The model number appears on a label on the side of the cooker.
How Many 3 Squares Cookers Were Recalled?
CPSC reports that about 175,000 units were sold in the United States.
Approximately 100 additional units were sold in Canada. Intertek’s public notice confirms the same general unit totals and model range.
How Many Incidents and Injuries Were Reported?
CPSC received three incident reports involving the recalled products.
Those reports included a cooker sparking when turned on and another cooker turning itself on unexpectedly. One electric-shock injury was reported.
The reported incident count reflects information known to CPSC and should not be interpreted as a prediction of how another recalled unit may behave.
Where Were the Recalled Cookers Sold?
The recalled products were sold at home, hardware, mass-merchandise, and department stores nationwide.
Online sellers included Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Costco, Get3Squares, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Target, Wayfair, and other websites.
Sales occurred from December 2015 through July 2016 for approximately $30 to $70, depending on model and capacity.
Who Imported and Distributed the Cookers?
CPSC identifies Sherwood Marketing, owner of the 3 Squares brand, LLC, of San Diego, California, as both importer and distributor.
The cookers were manufactured in China.
The CPSC recall number is 17-017.
What Is the Current Recall Remedy?
The current CPSC record states that the original remedy is no longer available because the firm lacks the financial resources to fund the recall.
CPSC now instructs consumers to stop using the recalled cookers, destroy them, and discard them.
This differs from the original 2016 remedy, which included replacement options through Sherwood and refund-related assistance for some Costco purchasers.
Why Can Electrical Shorting Cause a Fire?
An electrical short allows current to travel through an unintended path, which can generate excessive heat.
In an appliance containing heating elements, wiring, insulation, and plastic components, excessive heat can result in sparking, melting, smoke, or fire.
For these cookers, CPSC specifically identifies improperly installed wiring as the source of the short-circuit hazard.
How Can an Electric Shock Injury Occur?
An electrical fault can expose a user to current if electricity reaches an accessible conductive part or otherwise escapes its intended circuit.
CPSC reports one shock injury in connection with the recalled cookers.
The severity of an individual electrical injury depends on current, duration of contact, pathway through the body, and other circumstances.
What Was the Sherwood Marketing v. Intertek Case?
After the recall, Sherwood Marketing sued Intertek Testing Services in federal court.
Sherwood alleged that Intertek’s testing of certain cooker prototypes was inadequate and that Sherwood relied on representations that the products complied with applicable safety standards.
The court dismissed Sherwood’s second amended complaint with prejudice in August 2018. The ruling concerned Sherwood’s claims against Intertek and did not establish a consumer injury award or a finding that Intertek caused individual consumer injuries.
What Evidence May Matter in a Cooker Fire or Shock Claim?
Physical evidence can include the cooker, model label, power cord, plug, damaged wiring, photographs, and surrounding property affected by fire or heat.
Purchase evidence may include receipts, online order histories, credit-card records, retailer emails, and product-registration information.
For injury claims, medical records, emergency-room documentation, burn photographs, cardiac testing, fire-department reports, and witness statements may also be relevant.
Who May Be Affected?
Potentially affected consumers include people who used a recalled 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 or Mini Tim3 Machin3 cooker and experienced sparking, overheating, fire, electric shock, or significant property damage.
Ownership of a recalled cooker alone generally does not establish an injury claim. A potential case usually requires evidence connecting the affected product and alleged defect to an actual injury or compensable loss.
Who May Be Liable?
Potentially responsible parties may include a manufacturer, importer, distributor, retailer, or another entity involved in supplying the cooker depending on the facts and applicable law.
Potential theories may include defective manufacture or design, inadequate warnings, negligence, breach of warranty, or other product-liability claims.
A CPSC recall does not automatically establish civil liability. Product identification, defect, causation, injury, damages, and applicable law must still be evaluated individually.
Do I Qualify?
- Did you own or use a recalled 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 or Mini Tim3 Machin3 cooker?
- Did the cooker spark, short circuit, turn on unexpectedly, overheat, catch fire, or cause an electric shock?
- Did the incident cause significant injury, medical treatment, or substantial property damage?
- Do you have the cooker, model label, purchase records, photographs, medical records, fire reports, or other supporting evidence?
An individualized legal review can determine whether product identification, the alleged defect, causation, damages, evidence, and applicable filing deadlines support a potential claim.
What Evidence Should I Preserve?
Preserve photographs of the cooker, model label, fixed power cord, plug, damaged areas, and surrounding property.
Keep receipts, online purchase histories, emails, retailer records, photographs, repair estimates, insurance records, and fire-department documentation.
If an injury occurred, preserve emergency records, physician notes, diagnostic testing, medical bills, photographs, and follow-up treatment documentation.
Do I Have a 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one suffered a serious electrical injury, burn, fire-related injury, or significant property damage involving a recalled 3 Squares cooker, you may have legal options. Contact Schmidt & Clark for a free case review.
Important Legal Actions or Recalls
| Event | Month/Year | Type | Status | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current CPSC remedy status | September 2026 | Recall status | No remedy available | CPSC | Destroy and discard |
| Sherwood v. Intertek dismissal | August 2018 | Federal litigation | Dismissed with prejudice | Federal court | Testing dispute |
| Intertek recall notice | October 2016 | Public notice | Recall confirmed | Intertek | Model range confirmed |
| 3 Squares cooker recall | October 2016 | CPSC recall | Recall remains listed | CPSC | 175,000 U.S. units |
Potential Compensation
Potential compensation may include emergency care, treatment for electric shock or burns, hospitalization, medications, follow-up treatment, and future medical expenses supported by an individual case.
Additional damages may include lost income, pain and suffering, permanent injury, property damage, repair costs, replacement costs, and other losses available under applicable law.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Legal Process Overview
Free case review: The initial review may address the cooker, model number, purchase history, incident, injuries, property damage, and available evidence.
Investigation. Attorneys may review the product, photographs, purchase records, CPSC materials, medical records, fire reports, property-loss documentation, and expert evidence.
Filing. A lawsuit may be filed when available evidence and governing law support one or more claims. Filing deadlines vary by jurisdiction.
Discovery/negotiation: The parties may exchange product-design records, manufacturing information, testing documents, incident evidence, medical records, property-damage evidence, and expert opinions while discussing possible resolution.
Resolution: A case may conclude through settlement, dismissal, court ruling, or trial. No outcome or timeline can be guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 3 Squares Cooker Recall
Do I Have a 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Lawsuit?
A potential case may warrant review if a recalled 3 Squares cooker shorted, sparked, overheated, caught fire, or caused an electric shock resulting in significant injury or property damage. Eligibility depends on product identification, causation, damages, evidence, and applicable law.
What Evidence May Support a 3 Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cooker Lawsuit?
Useful evidence may include the cooker, model label, purchase records, photographs, fire reports, medical records, insurance documentation, and damaged property.
Which 3 Squares Cookers Were Recalled?
The recall covers 3RC model numbers ending in 3010S, 3020S, 3434, 5020, and 9010S. The affected products have fixed power cords.
Why Were the Cookers Recalled?
CPSC says improperly installed wiring can cause electrical shorting. That creates fire and electric-shock hazards.
How Many Cookers Were Recalled?
About 175,000 units were sold in the United States, with about 100 additional units sold in Canada.
How Many Incidents Were Reported?
CPSC reports three incidents, including sparking and a cooker turning itself on. One shock injury was reported.
Is the Original Recall Remedy Still Available?
No. CPSC’s current recall record states that the firm lacks the financial resources to fund the remedy and directs consumers to destroy and discard the recalled product.
Where Were the Recalled Cookers Sold?
The products were sold nationwide and online through numerous major retailers from December 2015 through July 2016 for about $30 to $70.
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Sherwood-Marketing-Recalls-3-Squares-Rice-and-Slow-Cookers
- https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/casdce/3%3A2017cv00782/530793/28/
- https://www.intertek.com/siteassets/resources/pn/2016/pn-16-32-sherwood-3squares-rice-cooker-102116.pdf