Pattern of Burn Injury Lawsuits
A series of product liability lawsuits filed since 2021 allege that Farberware 7-in-1 programmable pressure cookers contain design defects that allow lids to be removed while units remain pressurized. This defect has allegedly resulted in explosions that spray scalding hot contents onto users, causing severe and sometimes permanent burn injuries.
The complaints center on Farberware pressure cookers sold exclusively through Walmart stores and online. Despite advertised safety features claiming to prevent lid removal while pressurized, multiple plaintiffs allege the locking mechanisms failed during normal use.
Recent Lawsuit Filings
In August 2025, a Michigan woman filed a lawsuit against Walmart alleging the lid “suddenly and unexpectedly” exploded off her Farberware pressure cooker while still pressurized. The complaint was brought in federal court claiming severe burn injuries resulted from the defective product.
In July 2025, another pressure cooker lawsuit was filed against Walmart by an Illinois woman who claims she was seriously burned by a Farberware 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker in August 2023. The lawsuit describes the product as “unreasonably dangerous” due to design defects.
In May 2023, two Ohio residents filed a joint lawsuit against Walmart after allegedly suffering severe burns when the lid exploded off a Farberware 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker. One plaintiff claims extensive burns and scarring on most of her upper body, while the other plaintiff suffered burns to his left arm.
A March 2022 lawsuit filed by a New York woman alleges the lid blew off her Farberware pressure cooker during normal use. According to the complaint, the incident occurred after the cooking cycle had completed and steam was being released, yet the lid unexpectedly exploded off in an “explosive manner,” causing severe, disfiguring burns to her arms and breasts.
Earlier Lawsuits Establish Pattern
In January 2022, a Detroit woman filed suit in federal court alleging her Farberware 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker (Model WM-CSS6004W) was defective and unreasonably dangerous. The lawsuit claims she was able to remove the lid while the cooker remained pressurized on January 19, 2019, resulting in first-degree and second-degree burns to her abdomen, breasts, and lower extremities.
The complaint specifically challenged Farberware’s advertising claims about safety features. The pressure cooker was marketed as having a “large locking lid that prevents the cooker from opening while pressurized,” yet the plaintiff was allegedly able to easily open the lid while under pressure.
In November 2021, a Louisiana woman filed a lawsuit alleging the lid on her Farberware 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker exploded off the pot on November 17, 2020. The complaint describes how scalding hot contents were forcefully ejected from the cooker, covering her body and causing severe burn injuries.
Alleged Design Defects
The lawsuits consistently allege that Farberware pressure cookers contain fundamental design flaws that render advertised safety features ineffective. Plaintiffs claim the locking mechanisms fail to prevent lid removal while units remain under dangerous pressure levels.
According to complaints, the defects allow users to rotate and remove lids with normal force even when internal pressure has not been safely released. When lids are removed prematurely, superheated contents under pressure explosively eject from the cooker, typically spraying upward onto users’ upper bodies, faces, and arms.
Multiple lawsuits accuse Farberware of falsely advertising safety features that purportedly make the cookers safe to use. Plaintiffs allege the company knew or should have known about the defects yet continued selling the products without recalls or adequate warnings to consumers.
Typical Burn Injury Patterns
Pressure cooker explosion victims typically suffer burns covering large portions of their bodies. Common injury areas include the face, neck, chest, breasts, abdomen, arms, hands, and shoulders.
Second-degree burns penetrate both the outer layer and underlying layer of skin, causing pain, redness, swelling, and blistering. These injuries often require medical treatment and may result in permanent scarring.
Third-degree burns destroy both layers of skin and can damage underlying tissues including muscles, tendons, and nerves. These severe injuries require extensive medical intervention, often including surgical debridement (removal of burned tissue), skin grafts, and prolonged rehabilitation.
Medical Treatment Requirements
Burn victims from pressure cooker explosions typically require immediate emergency room treatment. Initial care focuses on cooling burns, preventing infection, managing pain, and assessing the extent of injuries.
Severe burns often necessitate hospital admission for specialized care. Treatment may include surgical debridement, a painful procedure involving scraping away burned skin and tissue to promote healing and prevent infection.
Many victims require skin graft surgeries where healthy skin from another body area is transplanted to cover burned areas. Multiple surgeries are often needed, followed by months or years of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling.
No Farberware Pressure Cooker Recalls Issued
Despite the pattern of lawsuits and reported injuries, Walmart has not issued any recalls for Farberware pressure cookers. This contrasts with actions taken by other pressure cooker manufacturers facing similar problems.
In 2023, Best Buy recalled nearly 1 million Insignia pressure cookers due to explosion risks and burn injuries. That same year, Sensio recalled approximately 860,000 electric and stovetop pressure cookers after receiving 63 injury reports including second and third-degree burns.
The absence of a recall for Farberware products despite ongoing litigation raises questions about corporate responsibility and consumer protection measures. Federal law prohibits selling products subject to recalls, but no such action has been taken for these pressure cookers.
Legal Claims and Compensation
Farberware pressure cooker lawsuits typically assert claims under product liability law. Plaintiffs allege strict liability for defective design, negligence in manufacturing and quality control, breach of implied warranties, and failure to warn consumers about known dangers.
Design defect claims argue the pressure cookers were unreasonably dangerous as designed, with safer alternative designs available. Manufacturing defect claims focus on failures in production or quality control that created dangerous products.
Failure to warn claims address inadequate safety instructions or warnings about risks. Breach of warranty claims arise when products fail to perform as advertised or promised.
Available Damages
Burn injury victims may recover economic damages including emergency room visits, hospitalization costs, surgical procedures, medication expenses, medical equipment, rehabilitation services, future medical care, and lost wages during recovery.
Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent scarring and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and reduced quality of life.
Do I Have a Farberware Pressure Cooker Class Action Lawsuit?
If you suffered burns from an exploding Farberware pressure cooker, consult with a product liability attorney to evaluate your case and potential compensation.
References
- https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/farberware-pressure-cooker-burn-lawsuit/
- https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/farberware-pressure-cooker-lawsuit-against-walmart-severe-burn-injuries/
- https://www.schmidtlaw.com/farberware-pressure-cooker-lawsuit/
- https://www.victimaid.com/practice-areas/product-liability/consumer-product-liability/pressure-cooker-injury/farberware-pressure-cooker-burn-lawsuit/