Sharp Microwave Drawers Prone to Catching Fire, Suit Says

Sharp Electronics Corp. microwave drawers have a defect that makes them susceptible to catching fire, a new proposed class suit alleges.

The electromagnetic waves generated by the units’ magnetron can’t properly move into the cooking cavity, the suit alleges. This leads to overheating and destruction of the magnetron, Californians Jill Brown and Austin Russell allege in their suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

It can take less than 30 seconds for a magnetron to overheat, scorch the back panel of the microwave, produce smoke, and fail altogether, the plaintiffs allege.

Sharp’s microwave drawers, which ...