This whirlpool cooktop safety notice contains important information about a potential hazard that may affect your appliance.
Whirlpool cooktop child safety lock activation is an essential step for any household with children under 10 years of age — Whirlpool electric and induction cooktops include a control lock feature designed to prevent accidental burner activation, and failure to enable this feature accounts for a significant proportion of pediatric burn injuries reported in kitchen environments.
Why This Matters
Children are naturally curious about glowing cooktop elements and touch-sensitive control panels. Even a brief accidental contact with a cooktop control can activate a burner at full heat. According to the American Burn Association, thermal burns to the hands, arms, and torso from stovetop contact are among the most common pediatric burn injuries treated in emergency rooms. Whirlpool’s control lockout feature deactivates the entire control panel with a single button combination, preventing all burner activation until the lock is disengaged by an adult.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Risk indicators include children who can reach the cooktop controls by standing on the floor or climbing; touch-sensitive control panels that activate from light contact; a cooktop model without a physical knob guard or control cover; and a home environment where children frequently accompany adults during cooking.
Inspection Schedule
Enable the control lock whenever the cooktop is not actively in use. Verify that the lock indicator light is active before leaving the kitchen. Test the lock function monthly to ensure the feature is operating correctly.
Required Action Steps
- Consult your Whirlpool cooktop use and care guide for the specific control lock activation sequence — on most models this involves pressing and holding the LOCK pad for 3 seconds.
- Enable the control lock immediately after every cooking session and verify the lock indicator light is illuminated.
- Teach children that the cooktop is not a toy and establish a kitchen safety zone boundary.
- Never leave the cooktop on and unattended when children are in the home.
- Consider installing a range guard rail on older cooktop models that do not have a built-in control lock feature.
- Contact Whirlpool at 1-866-698-2538 if your cooktop control lock function is not working correctly.
Contact information: Whirlpool Customer Support: 1-866-698-2538 | CPSC Recall Hotline: 1-800-638-2772 | cpsc.gov
Urgency Level: HIGH FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN. The control lock feature is free, built-in, and takes three seconds to activate. Enable it every time you finish cooking — it is your most effective tool for preventing pediatric cooktop burns.
Read this important safety alert regarding whirlpool cooktop child safety lock advisory for affected Whirlpool models.
Related Resources
Review these related resources to stay informed about Whirlpool appliance safety and maintenance best practices.
For more information, visit CPSC Safety Education and Whirlpool Official Support.