Dehumidifier Recall Lawsuit – How to Bring a Claim

Dehumidifiers made by Gree, New Widetech, Midea, and Sears under the Kenmore brand have been recalled in four separate actions since 2011. The recalls cover more than 10.4 million units sold under dozens of brand names nationwide.

An internal part in these units can short-circuit, creating a risk of overheating and fire. CPSC has tied the recalled units to thousands of incident reports and four possible deaths.

Owners should stop using the appliance and unplug it. Contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair. CPSC currently lists the Gree recall as open and reannounced, after a new warning in August 2023.

Latest Dehumidifiers Recall Updates

June 16, 2025: Executives Sentenced to Federal Prison

A federal judge sentenced former Gree USA executives Charley Loh and Simon Chu [1]. Loh, the chief executive, got 40 months, and Chu, the chief administrative officer, got 38 months, plus three years of supervised release.

The court also fined Loh $12,000 and Chu $5,000 for conspiring to defraud regulators and failing to report the defect. It was the first-ever criminal prosecution of individual executives for failure to report under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

March 15, 2024: Ohio Fire Leads to a Separate Lawsuit

A house fire at a home in Lima, Ohio, led the property owners to sue Gree USA directly in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Their case, Craig v. Gree USA (Case No. 3:24-cv-846), alleges a defective Gree dehumidifier caused the fire [2]. The suit is a product-liability claim, separate from the government’s criminal cases against Gree.

November 16, 2023: Former Executives Convicted at Trial

Loh and Chu were convicted at trial in Los Angeles on charges of conspiracy and failing to report the dehumidifier defect to safety regulators. Prosecutors said the executives knew of the fire risk well before they disclosed it.

They withheld that information from regulators for at least six months while continuing to sell the dehumidifiers. The case was separate from Gree USA’s own guilty plea and $500,000 criminal fine, sentenced earlier that year.

August 16, 2023: Gree Recalls 1.56 Million More Units

Gree recalled 1.56 million more dehumidifiers (recall #23-262), sold under the Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole, and Seabreeze brands and made from 2011 through 2014 [3].

The recall followed at least 23 fires, 688 overheating reports, and $168,000 in damage – smaller in scope than Gree’s earlier lines. The same day, CPSC also issued a broader warning covering every recalled Gree unit, detailed below.

August 16, 2023: CPSC Warns Owners to Stop Use

The same day, CPSC issued the 2023 warning telling owners of every recalled Gree unit, across all four Gree recall lines, to stop use immediately [4].

The warning cited four possible deaths: one in Ohio, one in Iowa, and two in Missouri. It also repeated the same historical total of overheating reports and property damage CPSC first cited back in November 2016, three years earlier.

April 24, 2023: Gree USA Sentenced over Failure to Report

Gree USA was sentenced to pay a $500,000 criminal fine after pleading guilty to failing to notify CPSC about the defect [5]. The fine was part of the $91 million resolution with its parent companies from October 2021.

The resolution also included provisions to pay restitution to victims of the recalled dehumidifiers, separate from CPSC’s earlier $15.45 million civil penalty against Gree.

November 10, 2022: Missouri Deaths Underlie a Wrongful-Death Suit

Kenneth and Phyllis Zerr died in a Missouri house fire their family says a defective Gree dehumidifier caused. Their estate sued Gree USA for wrongful death in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

The case, Hillman v. Gree USA (No. 4:23-cv-00830-SEP), is proceeding after the court denied summary judgment, one of two active suits against Gree USA over house fires [6].

October 29, 2021: Gree’s Parent Companies Face Criminal Charges

Gree’s China-based parent companies, Gree Zhuhai and Gree Hong Kong, were charged by the Department of Justice and agreed to a $91 million deferred-prosecution resolution [7]. Gree USA separately pleaded guilty to the same failure-to-report violation.

The resolution was the first-ever corporate criminal enforcement action brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act. That distinguishes it from the individual prosecution of Gree USA’s former executives that followed.

August 4, 2021: New Widetech Recalls About 2 Million Dehumidifiers

New Widetech recalled about 2 million dehumidifiers (recall #21-174), sold nationwide under well-known brand names, plus roughly 380,000 more units in Canada and 25,000 in Mexico [8].

The company cited 107 reports of overheating or fire and about $17 million in property damage. Units were made before September 1, 2017, the most recent manufacture-date cutoff of any dehumidifier recall found on this page.

August 4, 2021: Health Canada Recalls the Same Units

Health Canada recalled up to 413,915 of the same New Widetech-made units the same day (identification number RA-75829) [9]. It acted jointly with CPSC and Mexico’s PROFECO consumer protection agency.

At the time of the recall, the company had received two Canadian reports of fire or smoke damage and no reports of injury. That matched the same-day US CPSC action for the identical units.

October 3, 2018: Minnesota Fire Officials Issue a Public Warning

Fire officials in Elk River, Minnesota, publicly warned residents to check for recalled units [10]. The warning followed two house fires in the area over the prior two months, both traced to recalled units.

The department’s alert came nearly two years after Gree’s November 2016 reannouncement, showing that recalled units already several years old were still causing house fires in the area.

November 29, 2016: Gree Reannounces Its Recall a Fourth Time

Gree reannounced its dehumidifier recall a fourth time (recall #17-039). The action covered the same units already listed in the recall’s 2013 and 2014 expansions, with no new scope added [11].

The company cited more than 2,000 overheating reports, roughly 450 fires, and over $19 million in property damage. CPSC has cited that same cumulative total for the Gree line ever since, three years into the recall.

November 4, 2016: Midea-Made Units Recalled

CPSC recalled about 3.4 million dehumidifiers made by Midea and sold under a wide range of house-brand names [12]. Combined with Midea’s earlier 2011 GE line, it was the second-largest recall line by unit count.

The notice cited overheating and fire hazards and $4.8 million in property damage. The recall remains open on CPSC’s site with no termination or completion notice, matching every other recalled dehumidifier line covered here.

May 15, 2014: Gree Reannounces Its Recall Again

Gree reannounced its dehumidifier recall again (recall #14-179), covering the same roughly 2.5 million US units and 55,000 in Canada, unchanged from the original 2013 scope [13].

CPSC published no new incident figures with this reannouncement. The recall had already been expanded twice in the months before it – in October 2013 to add SoleusAir models, and in January 2014 to add GE-brand units.

January 30, 2014: Recall Expanded to GE-Brand Units

Gree’s recall was expanded that month to include 350,000 more dehumidifiers, sold under the GE brand, matching the same overheating defect found in the original recall.

It brought the brand names covered by the Gree recall to 13 in all, including Gree, Kenmore, and SoleusAir. This was the recall’s second expansion since September 2013, after an earlier addition of SoleusAir models that October.

October 30, 2013: Recall Updated to Add SoleusAir Models

Gree’s recall (#13-283) was updated to add four more SoleusAir dehumidifier models, ranging from 20 to 70 pints in capacity, and to expand several affected date-code ranges.

The update followed 160 more incident reports and 25 more fires, logged in the roughly seven weeks since the original September 2013 recall. CPSC posted it as an amendment to the same notice, without issuing a new recall number.

September 12, 2013: Gree Recalls 2.2 Million Dehumidifiers

Gree recalled about 2.2 million dehumidifiers in the United States, plus 52,500 more in Canada (recall #13-283) [14]. The units were sold under 12 brand names, including Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Seabreeze, and SoleusAir.

The recall followed 325 incidents nationwide that included 71 fires and $2,725,000 in property damage. This was the original Gree dehumidifier recall, and four later updates and reannouncements would go on to expand it further.

July 17, 2013: Sears Reannounces Its Kenmore Recall

Sears reannounced its Kenmore dehumidifier recall (recall #13-238), covering the same roughly 795,000 units first recalled the year before, after seven additional incident reports [15].

The reports included one severe burn and three more fires that caused over $300,000 in added property damage. That was on top of the roughly $7 million already reported in 2012, bringing the recall’s total injuries to four.

August 2, 2012: Sears Recalls Kenmore Dehumidifiers

Sears recalled about 795,000 Kenmore dehumidifiers (recall #12-240), made in China by LG Electronics and sold under the Kenmore brand [16]. It was the only recalled dehumidifier line sold exclusively at Sears.

The recall followed 107 incident reports, more than $7 million in property damage, and three reports of smoke-inhalation injury. Those were the first of four total injuries the recall would log over the next year.

January 11, 2011: GE and Professional Series Units Recalled

CPSC recalled about 198,000 GE and Professional Series dehumidifiers made by Midea (recall #11-088) [17]. It was the earliest and, by unit count, the smallest of the four manufacturer recall lines covered on this page.

The recall followed 14 reports of smoke or fumes and eight fires in total, six of which caused damage beyond the unit itself, with no injuries reported.

Which Dehumidifiers Are Affected?

Dehumidifiers from four separate manufacturers have been recalled since 2011, spanning more than a decade of production. Match your unit’s brand and model to the list below, then check the date code on its nameplate:

• Gree-made units, sold as Gree and under names including GE, Kenmore, SoleusAir, Norpole, and Seabreeze, made 2005-2014, recalled 2013-2023
• New Widetech-made units, sold under well-known brand names, made before September 1, 2017, recalled in 2021
• Midea-made units, sold under dozens of retail brand names, recalled in 2011 and 2016
• LG-made Kenmore units sold through Sears, recalled in 2012 and reannounced in 2013

The complete model and date-code lists are on each manufacturer’s own recall notice, cited above, along with the exact recall or campaign number for each line.

Why Were Dehumidifiers Recalled?

Dehumidifiers across all four recalled lines were pulled because an internal component can short-circuit or otherwise fail. That failure can cause the unit to overheat, smoke, and in hundreds of documented cases catch fire.

Each manufacturer’s notice names this electrical or mechanical defect as the reason for its recall. The specific failing part varies by brand and model year.

CPSC’s investigation into the Gree recalls went further. In 2016 the agency fined Gree a record $15.45 million penalty for selling units with a false safety mark and for a late defect report [18].

Federal law requires manufacturers to report a defect to CPSC within 24 hours of learning about it. CPSC found Gree missed that deadline, on top of the false marking violation.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

CPSC and the manufacturers have logged thousands of overheating and fire reports across the four recalled dehumidifier lines. The Gree lines account for the largest share.

Gree’s two recall lines carry the largest share of that total. That includes the incident reports, fires, and property damage CPSC tracked in its November 2016 reannouncement, plus the four deaths the agency called possible in its August 2023 warning.

New Widetech’s recall involved 107 reports and about $17 million in damage, with no injuries reported. Midea’s recall cited $4.8 million in damage.

The Sears/Kenmore recall involved 114 combined reports, more than $7.3 million in damage, and four injuries – three smoke-inhalation cases and one severe burn. A report does not prove the dehumidifier caused every incident counted here.

What Should Consumers Do?

Owners of any recalled dehumidifier should take the following steps:

1. Stop using the dehumidifier immediately and unplug it to reduce the risk of overheating or fire
2. Do not return the unit to the store where it was purchased
3. Confirm your unit matches a recalled model and date code using the identifying details listed in the section above
4. Call Gree at (866) 853-2802, New Widetech at (877) 251-1512, or Midea at (800) 600-3055
5. Call Sears/Kenmore at (855) 400-4641 for a refund or free repair on an affected Kenmore unit
6. Report any overheating, smoke, or fire incident to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov or (800) 638-2772

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

Health Canada coordinated its action with CPSC and Mexico’s PROFECO, detailed in the August 4, 2021 entry above. No other country has announced a comparable recall.

Legal Options

The Gree recalls led to years of government enforcement action. CPSC issued a record civil penalty. The Department of Justice brought a federal criminal case. Two former executives received prison sentences, detailed in the timeline above.

Individuals whose homes or family members were harmed have also sued Gree USA directly. These include a wrongful-death case and a house-fire case now pending in federal court.

A recall or an enforcement penalty does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation in any other person’s case. Each claim depends on its own facts.

Filing Deadlines

A claim over a dehumidifier fire, injury, or death follows a deadline set by state law. CPSC and the manufacturer do not set this deadline.

That deadline depends on where the fire or loss happened and when it occurred. Some states start the clock on the date of diagnosis or discovery, rather than the date of the fire itself.

Missing the filing window can end a claim even when the underlying facts are strong. Talking to a lawyer soon, before that window closes, keeps the option open.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Find Out If My Dehumidifier Is Part of a Recall?

You can find out if your dehumidifier is part of a recall by searching CPSC’s SaferProducts.gov recall database directly. You can also check by matching its brand and model against the notices listed above.

Are Dehumidifiers Made After 2017 Included in Any Recall?

Dehumidifiers made after 2017 are not included in any recall found on this page. New Widetech’s 2021 recall, the most recent with a manufacture-date cutoff, covers units made before September 1, 2017. Gree’s cutoff is 2014, Midea’s is 2013, and the Sears Kenmore line’s is 2009.

Has Legal Action Been Taken over Defective Dehumidifiers?

Yes, legal action has been taken over defective dehumidifiers. Combined, CPSC’s civil penalty, the Department of Justice’s $91 million resolution, and Gree USA’s criminal fine total more than $106.9 million in government penalties. Two former executives also received separate prison sentences.

How Do I Contact the Manufacturer About My Recalled Dehumidifier?

You can contact the manufacturer about your recalled dehumidifier using the phone numbers listed above. Gree’s line runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays, and owners from the August 2023 recall can join a waitlist at global.gree.com, running six to eight weeks.

When Were the Recalled Dehumidifiers Sold?

The recalled dehumidifiers were sold nationwide between 2005 and 2017, depending on the line. Gree units sold for $110 to $400, and New Widetech units sold for about $120 to $430.

Has Anyone Won a Settlement or Verdict over a Dehumidifier Fire?

No named public jury verdict or settlement compensating consumers has been reported for a dehumidifier fire claim. The penalties described above went to the government for regulatory and criminal violations. They were not paid to any injured consumer.

Which Company Made the Most Recalled Dehumidifiers?

Gree made the most recalled dehumidifiers, with about 4.06 million across its two recall lines. Midea follows with about 3.6 million, then New Widetech with about 2.1 million, and Sears’ Kenmore line with about 795,000.

References

1. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-corporate-executives-sentenced-first-ever-criminal-prosecution-failure-report-under
2. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10359600/craig-v-gree-usa-inc/
3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Gree-Recalls-1-56-Million-Dehumidifiers-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Reports-of-At-Least-23-Fires
4. https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2023/CPSC-Warning-Stop-Using-Recalled-Gree-Dehumidifiers-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-4-Deaths-May-be-Tied-to-Recalled-Units
5. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/gree-us-subsidiary-sentenced-failure-report-dangerous-dehumidifiers
6. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10837097/brenda-hillman-et-al-v-gree-usa-inc-et-al/
7. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/gree-appliance-companies-charged-failure-report-dangerous-dehumidifiers-and-agree-91-million
8. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Two-Million-Dehumidifiers-With-Well-Known-Brand-Names-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Manufactured-by-New-Widetech
9. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/various-aeonair-danby-and-longhi-dehumidifiers-recalled-due-fire-hazard
10. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/elk-river-house-fires-recalled-dehumidifier/
11. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Gree-Reannounces-Dehumidifier-Recall-Following-450-Fires-and-19-Million-in-Property-Damage-0
12. https://www.news4jax.com/consumer/2016/11/04/dehumidifiers-made-by-midea-recalled/
13. https://www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls/2014/gree-reannounces-dehumidifier-recall/
14. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2013/gree-recalls-12-brands-of-dehumidifiers
15. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2013/Sears-Reannounces-Recall-of-Kenmore-Dehumidifiers
16. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2012/sears-recalls-kenmore-dehumidifiers-due-to-fire-and-burn-hazards
17. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2011/ge-and-professional-series-brand-dehumidifiers-recalled-due-to-fire-hazard
18. https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2016/Gree-Agrees-to-Pay-Record-1545-Million-Civil-Penalty-Improve-Internal-Compliance-for-Failure-to-Report-Defective-Dehumidifiers