With Perfect Flame SLG2006 and SLG2007 grills, be wary of fire and burn hazards

If you own a Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 gas grill (shown), be especially cautious whenever you use the grill. What appeared to be limited fire and burn hazards with some models might be much wider than anyone realized, according to this recent item from the Consumer Reports Safety blog.

Last August, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of the Perfect Flame GAC3615 due to fire and burn hazards. The cooking chamber of those grills can "melt or ignite” according to the recall notice.

But our readers are telling us that’s not the only volatile model. In fact, after our August 13, 2008, "Does the Perfect Flame Grill Recall Go Far Enough?" blog post suggested that the recall was too narrow, we received more than 100 responses from readers whose Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 melted or caught on fire.

The number of complaints and severity of the incidents are very concerning to our safety experts, who are collecting additional information they hope will be used to address the hazards with these Perfect Flame grills.

Read the rest of the story on the Consumer Reports Safety blog, which includes precautions to take before using a Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 grill. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new outdoor cooker, read our latest report on gas grills (story and ratings available to subscribers) and check out our free buying advice.

Comments

[laura griffin]

I bought a Perfect Flame grill for Christmas 2007 for my husband. We got the letter in the mail this spring about a recall but since our grill was not the correct model numbers we did not think too much about it - figuring that if our grill were dangerous they would have included our model number also. boy were we wrong! Last nite while grilling chicken we realized that it was way too hot and burning our food - my husband shut the burners off and realized that the grill itself seemed to be burning. He quickly rolled it around and unattached the gas tank. we tried a little water to see if that would put out the flames but that appeared to make it worse, so we tried buckets of dirt while I called 911. He pulled the grill off of the wooden deck and away from the wood siding on our house and chunks of burning flaming metal were falling off of the grill and starting the grass on fire as he did so -- I seriously feared that our deck, house, or the terribly dry grass and woods right next to us would blaze up. The fire dept. finally arrived and had to use a full tank of co2 to put it out. The fireman stated that they had never experienced a grill burning like that and there had to be something flammable about the metal itself. This was a very dangerous situation. I am very upset that no further notices were sent to us by Perfect Flame, and we are currently trying to see if Lowes will replace our grill -- not to mention the melted BBQ utensils, the charred deck wood, the bags of potting soil that we threw on the grill. This was at $300 grill that had been used only approx. 18 months. At this point, I do not think Perfect Flame should be manufacturing grills -- we noticed in looking at the serial and model markers on the back of the grill it was Made in China -- if Perfect Flame cannot make sure they are manufacturing quality items, then they should not be in business. Thank you for letting me vent! Please be careful if you own one of these grills -- I would throw it out!

[Tommy Chestnut / Bonnie Baker]

We bought a Perfect Flame Gas Grill from Lowes (cannot remember the date) but it is a SLG2007A model. We pulled it out this year and were about to use it and noticed that 2 of the 3 burners had rused out and while I was looking for replacement parts, I found this article where there has been a recall on these grills. Is it too late to be reimbursed for our purchase since no one notified us that there was a recall. Or is it safe to get the replacement burners and get it back in shape to grill?
Thanks for your assistance in this matter.

[Gil]

We have a Perfect Flame GST1811 model (table top/portable) and found that the brass nut between the flame control and the burner is defective and the burner keeps going out, while gas continues to flow. The problem looks like the whole burner is easily turned on its side and the adjustment is dangerously loose. This model was not recalled. The unit originally worked well and we like the burner, but the connection between burner and flame control is too fragile.

[Zeke Hernandez]

The perfect flame grill all together is a pretty decent grill but the problems associated with them need to be fixed or taken off the market. I work at a place that used to sell this grill for 179 dollars. This grill and other models from perfect flame have caused us some major issues. Just one year before this grill was recalled another model from perfect flame was recalled as well for the same problem!!! During the recall process for the other grill we received many returns in which we issued full credit back to the customer. What I find weird is that we have only received maybe two or three of the currently recalled grills so far. We sent back to perfect flame about 15 grills and the three grills we returned from customers were in pretty bad shape. If you ask me I do not think perfect flame is doing a good enough job letting people know about this major issue. To reply to a post from Tommy Chestnut: They did not send you a letter because more than likely you did not send in warranty information so they have no means of contacting you but because this is a recalled grill all you have to do is call perfect flame, simply go to the website and get a customer service number and they will be more than happy to tell you where to take the grill and give you further instruction. The grill was clearanced out at 179 dollars so do not expect to get much more than that in return and better yet the store in which they tell you to take it too may give you in store credit if you do not have a receipt. But hey at least you can put that towards getting a new grill that wont cause you problems in the long run and the difference you spend would probably be how much you spend on replacement parts anyways.

[Amy]

We have a SLG2006 that has caught fire a few times, the burners are rotting and currently cannot use grill. When will this be recalled?

[Lisa Gaynord]

We purchased the Perfect Flame grill SLG2007A from Lowe's in April 07. We use it very little. But this weekend when we were using it, it caught on fire. We had just used it on Saturday for a big party and people were standing around it thankfully it didn't happen then. It happened Sunday. The whole grill just burst into flames that were uncontrollable. The inside literally melted away. We returned it to Lowe's and bought a new grill. Thankfully I had my credit card statement because the price was a big difference. We paid $300, they are selling them now for $179. I wonder why.

[Shelly Humphreys]

WARNING**** We have a Perfect Flame Gas Grill purdhased at Lowes.
While cooking hamburgers I smelt plastic burning, I thought it was my spatula burning so ran in to grab my metal one. when I came out the smell was worse. It never crossed my mind that my grill was on fire so I thought some plastic had fallen down in the grill. While looking in the grill I saw flames where there were not suppose to be. MY GRILL WAS ON FIRE!! Luckly for me my neighbor ran over with the hose. I contacted the manufactorer and they wanted me to pay for the replacement parts so what to have this happen again!! I then contacted Lowes corp. office and currently waiting on a responce from them!! Lowes is aware of this hazard now and selling such a dangerous item would not be a wise thing!!

[Shelly Humphreys]

Warning****Perfect Flame model SLG2008A caught on fire while cooking hamburger. The manufacturer wanted me to pay for replacement part just to have the same thing happen again. I contacted Lowes Corp office and waiting for response. Not a good thing for lowes to carry such a dangerous item!!!!!!!

[Jeri]

In August 2007 we purchased a gas grill from Lowes 3019L-LPG/NG. We paid over $500.00 for this grill. The directions said to turn on the burners on for 1/2hr before grilling the first time. I imagine it was to burn off the new suface of the burners. Anyway, about 20 minutes later, the siding on the house was melted and now we have burners that have a hugh hole. Good stainless steel grade does not burn holes in your burners. I think this model should have been recalled. Even if the burners are replaced, they will not last for long. The new ones are made of the same material as the old ones. Someone should recall this one also. I think they are dangerous. If this particular grill is recalled, please let me know. I imagine all the burners of all their perfect flame grills are made of this same material.

[Chabo C]

I also have a SLG2007B with huge cracks in the burners. This product should be recalled and the company closed for good.

[Rachael]

Have a SLG2006B with all heating elements rusted out after only 2 years. Has never caught on fire but evidently of poor quality. Is this in the process of being recalled?

[Jim Rieff]

I have (had) a Perfect Flame SLG2007D. I thought it was a great grill, provide many wonderful grilling times, that was until a few days ago and it caught fire. i now am the owner of a grill with melted control knobs, blackened outside and warped structure. The most important thing is that my wife is still alive and that our house did not carch fire.

[Angela]

we have the SLG2007D model. I did not realize the problems with this grill until we went to order new heat shields. Then when i find someone with the part there is a waiting list. First come first serve and they are 22.00 a piece. What a racquet. Is there no recourse for the consumer?