Nearly 250,000 mini-fridges sold on Amazon recalled over burn and fire risk

A federal recall has been issued for nearly a quarter million mini-fridges that were widely sold online, after regulators warned that the appliances may smoke, spark, or even ignite.

Roughly 250,000 Cooluli units are included in the recall, raising both safety concerns and the possibility of costly damage for households that own one.

Here's what to know

At the center of the recall are Cooluli mini-fridges with an electrical switch that can short-circuit. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, "the recalled mini-fridges' electrical switch can short circuit, posing fire and burn hazards."

The defect can be found in the 2.6-gallon (10-liter) and 4-gallon (15-liter) versions equipped with two power inputs. The CPSC noted that the mini-fridges were available on Amazon and through Cooluli's website between January 2019 and October 2024, with prices between $80 and $120.

Affected units were sold in a range of colors and with different patterns, photos, and logos, although "Cooluli" appears on the front of each mini-fridge. 

The recall applies to batch numbers 1535 through 1545 and 1200000 through 1202080, which consumers can find on the inside of the door.

Unfortunately, the agency has received 19 reports involving these mini-fridges "smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating, or catching fire." In total, those events led to more than $80,000 in property damage, and one person reported smoke inhalation injuries, per the recall notice.

What can be done?

Anyone with a Cooluli mini-fridge should stop using it unless they have confirmed it is not part of the recall. Federal safety officials say recalled units should not continue to operate because of the fire and burn hazards.

Owners can identify affected products by checking the model and batch numbers on the unit. After that, consumers should go to Cooluli's recall website and enter those model and batch numbers to determine whether their unit is covered. If it is, the company says customers will be instructed to unplug the appliance, cut the power cord, and send in photos showing the numbers.

For those who own the recalled mini-fridges, Cooluli is providing a free replacement power cord. The company can also be reached by phone at 718-834-5312, by email, or online.

And for more information, the recall number for this case is 26-685.

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