Insignia Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Update: Injuries, Recall Status, and Legal Options

Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers sold by Best Buy have been recalled and are now named in a burn-injury lawsuit. The suit alleges hot contents were projected from an Insignia 8 Qt cooker onto a mother and her child. The CPSC recalled about 930,000 cookers on October 26, 2023, after 31 incident reports that included 17 burn injuries. Owners should stop using a recalled cooker and contact Best Buy for free replacement parts. The lawsuit, according to the plaintiffs’ law firm, is an individual injury case against Best Buy and Midea America in federal court in Minnesota. No MDL has been formed and no settlement has been announced.

Latest Insignia Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Updates

May 13, 2024: Williams Files Lawsuit Against Best Buy and Midea America

Shianka Williams and her minor son sued Best Buy Co., Inc. and Midea America Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on May 13, 2024, according to their law firm’s press release [1]. The complaint alleges the lid of the Insignia 8 Qt Multi-Function Pressure Cooker, model NS-MC80SS9, could be removed under pressure, projecting scalding contents. These are allegations, not court findings.

October 26, 2023: CPSC Announces Recall of About 930,000 Cookers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced recall 24-013 of about 930,000 Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers and inner pots sold separately [2]. The notice says incorrect volume markings on the inner pot can lead consumers to overfill it. Hot food and liquid can then be ejected when the cooker is vented by quick release or opened while its contents are pressurized.

What Are Pressure Cookers?

According to a 2020 Spartan Medical Research Journal paper, pressure cookers are airtight kitchen utensils intended for quick cooking [3]. They bring boiling water to roughly 121 degrees C at about 15 pounds per square inch. The paper says the lid is designed to stay secured through locking and safety valve mechanisms. The recalled Insignia cookers are electric models.

Who May Be Affected?

People who own or used an Insignia 6-quart or 8-quart Multi-Function Pressure Cooker may be affected, including anyone burned by hot contents. The CPSC recall covers the following models of Insignia cookers and their inner pots:

• 6-quart and 8-quart Multi-Function Pressure Cookers, models NS-MC60SS8, NS-MC60SS9 and NS-MC80SS9
• Replacement inner pots sold separately: NS-MCRP6NS9 and NS-MCRP6SS9

The cookers were sold at Best Buy stores nationwide, at bestbuy.com and on Amazon from October 2017 through June 2023 for between $50 and $120. Each burn case depends on its own facts, so only an individual legal review can say whether a claim may exist.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The CPSC recall notice says the company received 31 reports of incidents in which contents were expelled under pressure. Those include 17 reports of burn injuries, some involving second-degree and severe burns. These are company reports, not findings that the cooker caused every injury. The Williams complaint alleges the injuries happened on May 30, 2023. A 2026 burn-center review by Tuzun and Tas, published in Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg, covered January 2016 to December 2024. It found that 41 of 3,410 burn admissions, or 1.2%, were pressure cooker burns [4]. Of those 41 patients, 92.7% had second-degree burns. Delayed hospital presentation was significantly associated with a greater need for surgical intervention. The review covers one Turkish center, so it gives general context and not Insignia or US counts.

Recall and Regulatory Background

The recall was a joint action of the CPSC, Health Canada and Best Buy Canada Ltd., according to the Health Canada notice [5]. The recall blames inner-pot volume markings, while the Williams complaint alleges a lid that can be removed under pressure. A recall does not prove liability. No MDL has been formed with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation for Insignia pressure cooker cases. For other brands, see our guide to pressure cooker burn lawsuits.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep the following items if an Insignia pressure cooker caused a burn or another injury, and do not throw the cooker away or send it back before talking to a lawyer:

• The cooker, the inner pot and the lid, kept together
• Photographs of the model number label on the cooker
• Photographs of the injury
• The receipt, or the Best Buy or Amazon account record of the purchase
• Medical records and medical bills
• Any recall notice and any messages with Best Buy

Filing Deadlines

The time limit for an injury claim over a defective cooker is set by the law of your state. It also depends on the date of the burn. Waiting too long can end a claim even when the evidence is good. Anyone burned by an Insignia cooker who is thinking about legal action should check with a lawyer promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There an Insignia Pressure Cooker Lawsuit?

Yes, an Insignia pressure cooker lawsuit has been filed. Its complaint references the CPSC recall and the incidents the agency reported. The allegations remain untested, and no company response or court ruling has been reported.

Can I Sue Best Buy for an Insignia Pressure Cooker Burn?

A person burned by an Insignia pressure cooker may name Best Buy, the seller, or the maker in a claim, and the Williams lawsuit names Best Buy as a defendant. Best Buy Purchasing LLC of Richfield, Minnesota imported the cookers, and they were manufactured in China.

What Should I Do with a Recalled Insignia Pressure Cooker?

With a recalled Insignia pressure cooker, contact Best Buy at 888-359-4485, open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or at recallrtr.com/pc. Best Buy provides a free replacement inner pot and floating locking valve.

Were Insignia Pressure Cookers Recalled in Canada?

Yes, Insignia pressure cookers were recalled in Canada. Health Canada posted recall RA-74430 for about 10,155 units of models NS-MC60SS9-C and NS-MC80SS9-C, with no incidents or injuries reported in Canada as of September 22, 2023.

What Does the Research Say About Pressure Cooker Burns?

The research on pressure cooker burns includes a burn-center review of 41 patients at one Turkish center from 2016 to 2024. Of them, 97.6% were female, with a mean age of 36.2 years. The head and neck (65.9%) and anterior chest (61%) were most affected.

How Do I Report an Insignia Pressure Cooker Burn to the CPSC?

To report an Insignia pressure cooker burn to the CPSC, file an incident report at saferproducts.gov. Consumers who have difficulty getting resolution for a recalled product can also file a complaint with the CPSC.

References

1. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnsonbecker-files-lawsuit-in-minnesota-federal-court-for-best-buys-insignia-pressure-cooker-injuries-302162386.html
2. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Best-Buy-Recalls-Insignia-Pressure-Cookers-Due-to-Burn-Hazard
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7746041/
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13254451/
5. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/insigniatm-multi-function-pressure-cookers-recalled-due-potential-burn-hazard