Keurig Coffee Maker Recall Lawsuit Investigation

Keurig Green Mountain’s Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System, model K10, formerly sold as model B31, was recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada on December 23, 2014. The recall covered about 6.6 million brewers sold in the United States and 564,000 sold in Canada. Water in the brewer can overheat during brewing, spray out and burn the person using it. Keurig has offered a free repair since the recall began, and no closure notice has been published, so the recall remains open. Owners of an affected brewer should avoid brewing close to their face and contact Keurig for the fix.

Latest Keurig Coffee Makers Recall Updates

January 31, 2017: CPSC Settles Civil Penalty Case Against Keurig

Keurig Green Mountain signed a settlement agreement with the CPSC and agreed to pay a $5.8 million civil penalty on January 31, 2017 [1]. Keurig did not admit the allegations in that settlement agreement. The agency said Keurig’s own internal investigation ran several months longer than usual. Firms are normally allowed far less time before they must report a safety hazard to regulators.

December 23, 2014: Keurig and Regulators Announce the Recall

The CPSC announced the recall jointly with Health Canada and Keurig Green Mountain on December 23, 2014 [2]. The joint notice covered about 6.6 million MINI Plus brewers in the U.S. and 564,000 in Canada. Keurig had received about 200 reports of hot liquid escaping from the brewer. Of those, 90 reports described a burn injury before the companies announced the fix.

Which Keurig Coffee Makers Are Affected?

Keurig Green Mountain’s MINI Plus Brewing System is the only product covered by this recall. The affected brewers can be identified by these details:

• Model K10, previously sold as model B31, manufactured between December 2009 and July 2014 and marked on the packaging
• An ID number starting with “31,” printed on a white sticker on the bottom of the brewer. It matches the serial ranges in the CPSC recall notice

They can also contact Keurig directly to confirm whether a specific unit is part of the recall. Health Canada issued a matching recall notice for brewers sold in Canada, listing the same model and serial ranges [3].

Why Were the Keurig Coffee Makers Recalled?

The Keurig Coffee Makers were recalled because the MINI Plus Brewing System could overheat water during brewing, causing it to spray out and burn consumers. Keurig’s brewers force water from an internal tank through the K-Cup portion pack under pressure to brew each cup. The CPSC’s settlement says that process can push hot water, coffee and coffee grounds out of the brewer. CPSC staff charged that the defect could create an unreasonable risk of serious injury, a charge Keurig’s settlement does not admit. The settlement states Keurig did not determine that the brewers were defective and recalled them out of caution.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Before the 2014 recall, Keurig logged close to 200 incident reports involving the brewer. Ninety of those reports described a burn-related injury, as the recall notice states. A later CPSC review covered incidents through November 2014. It found that more than 100 of about 200 reports involved burns to consumers’ faces, hands, or bodies. Some of those burns were severe enough to require medical treatment. Two of those burns left facial scarring, one caused an eye injury, and one consumer was treated by a plastic surgeon. Keurig separately paid two consumer injury claims. Reports alone do not prove the product caused every incident.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone with a recalled Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System should take the following steps to stay safe and request a repair:

1. Stop brewing near your face while a repair is pending, since the brewer can still spray hot liquid.
2. Check your brewer’s serial number, found underneath the unit, against the recalled ranges the CPSC published.
3. Contact Keurig Green Mountain toll-free at (844) 255-7886 to request a free repair.
4. Report a burn injury to the CPSC Consumer Information Hotline at 800-638-2772 or through SaferProducts.gov.
5. Keep receipts, photos, and medical records in case the brewer caused an injury that needed treatment.

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

The Keurig MINI Plus recall is not the only hot-beverage appliance recall on record. Sensio recalled some steam espresso machines for a separate burn hazard, covered on the Sensio steam espresso machine recall page. A different manufacturer, Kidisle, recalled a coffeemaker for an unrelated defect. That action is detailed on the Kidisle coffeemaker recall page, and it involves a different product and hazard from the Keurig MINI Plus brewer.

Legal Options

Burns from a recalled product can sometimes support a product-liability claim. Even so, a recall does not automatically establish liability or a right to compensation. No lawsuit, class action or multidistrict litigation has been filed over the MINI Plus burn hazard. The only related legal action is the CPSC’s 2017 civil-penalty settlement with Keurig, which resolved a reporting violation and paid the agency, not consumers.

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for a product-liability claim come from state law rather than a single federal rule that applies everywhere in the country. How much time a person has depends on where they live and when the injury happened. In a few states, the countdown begins at diagnosis rather than the date of the injury itself. Missing the applicable deadline can end a claim, even when the facts are strong. Anyone considering one should check with a lawyer promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Were the Recalled Keurig Coffee Makers Made?

The recalled Keurig coffee makers were made in China and Malaysia, according to the recall notice. Keurig imported the finished brewers and sold them through its own brand and through retail partners nationwide.

Were There Also Keurig Recall Reports in Canada?

Yes, Keurig also received recall-related reports in Canada. The company logged 25 reports of liquid spraying and 17 minor burns there, while Health Canada said it had not itself received any consumer incident reports about the brewers.

Did Keurig Face Any Penalties over the Recall?

Yes, Keurig faced penalties over the recall. The CPSC said the company waited too long to report the defect, and Keurig agreed to a civil penalty. The payment resolved a reporting violation and went to the agency, not to injured consumers.

How Do I Get a Free Repair for a Recalled Keurig Brewer?

To get a free repair for a recalled Keurig brewer, call the recall line at (844) 255-7886. You can also visit keurig.com and select “Product Recall.” Phone lines run weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and weekends 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

What Should I Do While Waiting for My Keurig Repair?

While waiting for a Keurig repair, be careful: the recalled brewer can still overheat and splash during brewing until it is fixed or replaced. Keurig has said it can advise callers on steps to avoid a burn injury while they wait.

How Long Did It Take Keurig to Report the Coffee Maker Defect?

It took Keurig several months to report the coffee maker defect. The CPSC settlement says the company began looking into it in June 2014. It did not file a required report until November 25, 2014, though, just weeks before the recall.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/17-C0002KeurigGreenMountainInc.pdf
2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keurig-recalls-mini-plus-brewing-systems-due-to-burn-hazard-300013346.html
3. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/keurig-green-mountain-inc-recalls-keurigr-mini-plus-brewers