My Rowenta Iron Caught Fire!!!
 

I purchased a Rowenta Focus DZ5080 several years ago. I absolutely loved my iron. It started leaking, but was way past warranty, so I just lived with it. I spent a lot of money for this iron and couldn't just throw it away. Yesterday, the iron started smelling funny and I got up to check the garage, thinking my husband was doing something. Then I decided that I had scorched some synthetic ribbon when ironing some quilt blocks. The smell was strong, so I unplugged it to cool and clean the face plate. While sitting on my kitchen counter, I plugged it in and it caught on fire at the base, inside the iron! Wow, I hate to think of what could have happened if I had stepped away waiting for the iron to heat up.

I did some research and found that many (115 so far) of the Rowenta irons have been reported catching fire. I could not find a recall notice on the Consumer Safety website. I have emailed the Rowenta corporation about this. I don't expect any financial compensation, but I am very concerned that someone could get hurt or worse. Has this happened to any of you?

YIKES!!! Didn't someone else just post, not too long ago, about an iron catching fire? Can't remember the brand but do remember it was one of the "nicer" ones (also Rowenta?). I always unplug my iron, when I leave it . . . but even still, that should never happen!!! :thumbdown:

No, but I'll be keeping a VERY close eye (and nose) on mine. Mine is a different model - Professional Luxe DM 880. Yikes! So glad you were right there!!

Huh. I have a Rowenta that recently started leaking rusty water (after years and years of good service) so now I use it dry, and occasionally I smell something odd as well. Wonder if mine is getting ready to blow. Mine has an auto-turn off switch, so it's always plugged in...

My rowenta travel iron exploded and blew out the circut

There was a post just the other day about irons. I have two Rowenta's, both cost over $100.00 and both less than 6mos. old when I started having problems. One spits, sizzles and leaks everywhere and the other just leaks all over the ironing board and whatever I happen to be ironing at the time. Someone suggested I use them dry but with the sizzling I wouldn't take a chance. Again.... the problem is no one repairs them so what do you do..... toss them?

I unplug my iron when not using it. Even though it has a auto-shutoff thingy. My iron is a Black and Decker model I bought it at Wal Mart for less than 20 bucks.

Sure makes me happy to have a new late 50s/early 60s GE dry iron. No fancy anything. Even though it's a good 50 years old it's only been in use about 6 years so I figure it'll last the rest of my life!

There have been way too many reports of Rowentas catching on fire for me to even entertain the thought of purchasing one.

Hubby bought me a shark and I have to say that I absolutely LOVE it!!! :)

I had two Rowenta's ( eack over $125.00)both had the same problem... just kept heating and heating till they were beyond white hot and I could smell the heat and the beginning of a strong scorch type smell. I think I may have caught the issue just prior to a fire starting. NO MORE Rowenta's for me. It's back to the cheapo walmart .

Very funny you should post this...mine did the exact same thing 2 nights ago....I think it will be replaced with an "el cheapo"

Thanks for the heads up. I also have two Rowentas ( do we ever have just ONE of anything?) I am really bad about walking away with it turned on. Hopefully this will get me to watch things closer & turn the darn thing off when I'm done.

Wow, how scary! I can't tell you how many times I turn my iron on and walk away while it's heating up. I don't have a Rowenta, but had considered one at one time. So glad that nothing tragic came from this. I hope that the company responds with a solution for those who have that same model. Thanks for your post...may help someone else in the future.

For me, the issue is less that we turn it on and walk away, and more that it overheats and/or catches fire in the first place. Irons should NOT do that. Period. Just because you're standing there doesn't mean it could end up any less tragic.

I have a Shark and I love it. I bought it at Target a couple of years ago and love it. I really like how fast it heats up and the amount of steam it gives. After all the things I've heard, I'm glad I decided on the Shark and not a Rowenta (that was my first choice when my iron gave out). But settled on the Shark because I liked how narrow the point was and how light it was.

Hello, Rowenta! For the thirtieth time this year alone...are you listening? I am going to drop the QB email address to the company and see what they have to say...if anything. I, for one, have bought my last Rowenta....I'll put my squares under the mattress if there's no other way to press them....

they are still being sold everywhere. I had mine a long time too until it finally blew out my power cord. Both went into the trash!

If and when you toss an appliance that is having issues, cut the cord so someone dumpster diving doesn't think it is a good appliance.

My God, isn't that the truth!!! I can not even believe the company hasn't been brought to suit over the issue. Anybody got an attorney in the family? Got rid of mine three years ago (leaking, not heating well)....Black and Decker, $20, Walmart for me, too. Buy a new one 18 months from now if I have to, no big deal.

Jan in VA

wow that makes me glad I got my iron at the thrift store! It's a 70's model GE and works just fine for me :) I also unplug it when not using it. If I forget to unplug sometimes I also forget to turn it off and it has been on all night before! Ahhhhhh lucky nothing like this happened. I'm so sorry this happened to you! I wonder if you can get a cheepo at the thrift store to replace it. Mine was 99 cents :)

I have a friend who got one of those stretchy, curly plastic bracelets. She puts it on when she plugs in her iron and doesn't take it off until she unplugs it. Kind of a built-in alarm system.

I gave up on Rowenta after purchasing two last year and ended taking both back, one to Walmart and the other ( which I held on to for about 10 months)! to CostCo. They have such good return policy! I now have a Sunbeam Turbo steam master, and it leaks occasionally. However, it gets very heavy daily use and I tend to not unplug it when I know I will be using it off and on throughout the day. Bad me!! It beeps at me when it shuts itself off after around 8 minutes, anyway. I have had it about 10 months, and really can't complain. I bought an Oliso and took it back, too because it leaked! I have a cheapo Rival from Walmart which I use just for fusible appliqué.

UPDATE from Rowenta: I sent an email to Rowenta customer service and received a call back. They have sent me a UPS shipping label to return the defective iron and are sending me another iron. "They are unaware of any problems with irons catching fire." I appreciate that they are willing to replace the iron 5 years out of warranty, but the safety factor concerns me. From my limited research on the Web, it doesn't seem to be any specific model. It seems to be a design problem with the base where the cord attaches. I wonder if the leaky water tanks are shorting out the cords? I appreciate the anecdotal information that backs up my experience, but I think further action is required. I am just not sure what that should be. I will report this to the Consumer Product Safety.

I have a Rowenta steam generator because the steam control is underneath the handle. This makes it easier to use steam since I have arthritis in my hand, especially where the thumb joint is. It is a replacement for another Rowenta steam generator (different model) I had over 6 years. It was acting up, etc. Over the years, I have had several brands of irons. None of them were ever "perfect." I do turn off the iron when I know if I will be away, say, for lunch. Once I am done for the day, I turn off the surge protector so that there is no latent electricty going into the iron overnight.

That is really scarry. Thank you for letting us know!

When I saw this post, I said to myself "Another one? " It was another Rowenta.

I had one that started leaking just before the warranty ran out so I was able to get it replaced. The replacement one started leaking within the next year (about 10-11 months later). I just bought a cheaper brand, which also started leaking after about a year.....is this a pattern???? Don't know.

I bought a inexpensive one ($27) and it started "peeing" (much more than a leak) from the upper area (if standing on end) of the handle.....uuuugggghhhh.....what to do???

I've had a Shark ($39.99) for about a year now and guess what?? Still working great!!! I'll probably replace my other leaky iron with another Shark. I'm sold at this point. PLUS -- it has a very large water reservoir and great steam.

I have my irons plugged into power strips that are easy to reach. Much more convenient.

As far as response rec'd from Rowenta--they are going to send another iron---I would tell them "no thanks"............would want my $$ refunded.........I in the past I have had two R's and finally gave up on them...they never caught fire, just leaked......so now I buy cheapos from Walmart and when they konk out I replace......but now I am intrigued about this Shark mentioned....will look into that brand.......

I have a Rowenta, never have liked it, so I don't use it a whole lot. I will be watching it closely when I do. Thanks.

I am with you. If I spent that much on an iron I don't expect it to leak either let alone catch on fire. I will stick with my $40 Tfal iron. Never any problems .

I had a Shark that I really liked but decided to 'upgrade' to a Rowenta. I'm so sorry that I did. I miss my Shark and that is what I will replace this Rowenta with when I need to. Just wondering if I should do it sooner than later!!

you know, I probably have the very same GE iron. Works great!

Yeah, I've had several (don't know WHY I keep buying them!) and they ALL leaked! Also, my cord caught fire! I will NEVER buy another Rowneta! I got a heavy Black and Decker and its fine.

I have had my Rowneta for several years with no problems until last week. I was pressing some blocks and the part of my iron that was on the ironing board cover started burning and melting the cover. It has an auto turn off but it must have just kept heating until it got that hot. Now I am afraid to use it and it will be going into the trash, with the cord cut off. I will be looking for another brand.

Iron fire
 

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing. Speaking of irons, I'd like to let you know. I bought an Oliso several years ago. Then it wouldn't turn off, then it wouldn't heat. I contacted them and they said send it back. If it can be fixed, they would and send it back. If not, if I paid a reasonable fee, they'd just send me a new iron. I was really impressed working with them. Point being, if you contact Rowenta, maybe they will send you a new iron.

Yikes, yikes yikes this seems like it just happened to someone else on this board, think of people who aren't on our board and have no idea of the potential problem! I have an allisio (spelling) it raises up when I set it down . I have had it for 3 years and now when I iron the handle feels really hot! I am keeping my eyes on it! Why don't they make things like they use to because everything lasted much longer back in the day.

My Rowenta iron is relatively new, 2 yrs. old, It makes me nervous as the heating cycle seems to go to such big extremes, makes ironing inconsistent... leaves me wondering and waiting for the possible malfunction. I have been unplugging or not leaving but for moments.
Seems to work better when I iron for long durations as when ironing clothes vs short bursts when quilting...
Seem to think I would like to have one of those fancy irons that is geared to quilting, can't think of the name, but have heard mixed reviews there too.

That's what they ALWAYS say! Every person on this site who has posted this very same problem (and there have been quite a few) comes back to report the exact same response from Rowenta. I can't figure out if A) Rowenta has a huge turnover in their customer no-service agents; B) they think we are THAT dumb and don't talk to each other; or C) are in that much denial that they don't see a huge problem (and liability!) with their product. There's already been one burn injury reported here on the board; I wonder how many others have been reported to Rowenta, or not reported at all.

I'm waiting with dread for the day when someone posts that they had some major fire damage - or worse - due to a defective Rowenta.