The Justice Department and the CPSC sued two Chinese firms to force a recall of Lakkzoom immersion heaters after hundreds of fire-related reports. The complaint alleges the units can ignite within minutes when partially or fully out of water and lack automatic shutoff protections. Authorities say over 98,000 units were sold in the U.S., and investigators logged more than 235 fire-related reports and 137 incidents since September 2024. The suit seeks a court-ordered recall under the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect consumers.
DOJ Sues Two Chinese Firms to Force Recall of Lakkzoom Immersion Heaters After Reports of Fires
File: Lakkzoom immersion water heater / Credit: Government photo
The Justice Department has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to force a mandatory recall of portable immersion water heaters sold under the brand name Lakkzoom, alleging the devices can overheat and catch fire "within minutes" of being switched on.
Who’s Named in the Lawsuit
The complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., names two Chinese companies: Cixi Miaojie Electrical Appliance Co. and Changsha Jiayi Tianzhuo Trading Co. According to the filing, both companies manufactured and sold the Lakkzoom immersion heaters in the United States.
Safety Risks and Allegations
The Justice Department, joined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), alleges the units can ignite when they are partially or fully removed from water and that the heaters lack basic safety features. The complaint says many competing, similarly priced immersion heaters include automatic shutoff systems that trigger if the heating element is not in contact with water or if the unit reaches a dangerous temperature—features the Lakkzoom units reportedly do not have.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche: "We will not allow dangerous products manufactured in China or elsewhere to flow to American consumers and expose unwitting families to the risk of serious injury or death."
Reports, Sales and Incidents
The complaint states the CPSC received more than 235 fire-related reports involving the heaters and that the agency’s investigation found the devices could ignite within minutes in certain conditions. The companies are alleged to have sold over 98,000 Lakkzoom heaters in the United States. Since September 2024, the complaint says there have been more than 137 reported fire-related incidents tied to these units.
Customer complaints cited in the court documents describe heaters that melted, sparked and set tubs, pools and even garages on fire. One consumer told investigators, "This caught on fire and almost burned my garage down." Another said, "This thing somehow caught my bathtub on fire!"
Legal Action and Next Steps
The DOJ brought the case under the Consumer Product Safety Act, which authorizes civil lawsuits to compel recalls of products that present a substantial risk of injury or death. The suit asks the court to order a mandatory recall and any other relief necessary to protect consumers.
Lawyers for Cixi Miaojie Electrical Appliance Co. and Changsha Jiayi Tianzhuo Trading Co. did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the filings.
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