GE LIGHTING AND BULBS PROBLEMS

ge lighting-bulbs

Information about the problems and breakdowns of GE lighting and bulbs that were reported from 1994 to 2021.

Common problems: burning, electric shock, explosion, fire, smoke.

Faulty modules: door, fan, glass, rack.

Recalls

3 safety recalls announced

Latch Fuseholders On Christmas Lights Properly To Prevent Potential Fire Hazard

  • Date: 9/15/1994

Gilbert Manufacturing Co. is warning owners of its Christmas and seasonal light sets that a potential fire or shock hazard may result if both latches of the fuseholder are not securely fastened. Consumers should close the fuseholder completely before plugging in the lightstring or decorative outfit. After replacing the fuse, consumers should make sure that the cord is flat in its cover channel before closing and latching the fuseholder at both ends. Sold nationally by a variety of major and own label distributors including, NOMA International Inc., Beacon Electric, General Electric Co., Leco Electric, Lidco Co., Markee Products, J. Hofert Co., R.C. Co., and Plastic Assembly Corp.

Undercabinet Fluorescent Lights Recalled by GE Home Electric Products

  • Date: 5/20/1999

Recall of about 9,100 undercabinet fluorescent light fixtures. These fixtures were improperly assembled and could present a serious electrical shock hazard to consumers. These lights are GE Ultra Thin Line 12-inch and 24-inch direct- wire, fluorescent, undercabinet fixtures. They are directly wired into the electrical system of the house. All the fixtures are white, and there is no writing on the outside of fixture.

GE Lighting Recalls LED Tube Lamps Due to Shock and Electrocution Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Lowe's Stores

  • Date: 6/6/2018

This recall involves GE Lighting's 31243 LED13T8U840 LED two pack tube lamps. These units are most often used in garages, basements, workshops and utility rooms.

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Problems

37 issues reported

GE Reveal 72W

  • Date: 5/21/2017

The consumer stated that the light bulb overheated and exploded very violently. It was installed in a ceiling fixture. The glass dome of the light was full of broken glass and other objects. A fine powder of broken glass glass escaped the light fixture and was spread about.

GE FLE 20HT3/2/SW

  • Date: 6/3/2011

56YOF smelled a burning odor, went to the living room & saw smoke coming from the top of the floor lamp. She unplugged it & saw the CFL bulb was burnt. She is worried because the bulb contains mercury & if it would have cracked they could have been exposed to it.

GE GE FLE 20HT3/2/SW

  • Date: 10/11/2011

53 YOM's wife noticed burning smell & called him to the room. Bulb in freestanding light fixture was smoking from base & putting out very little light. Lamp was unplugged & bulb, which was hot to touch, was replaced with more conventional bulb which solved problem.

GE 11242

  • Date: 5/8/2012

Night light shorted out, blackened on inside & blew circuit breaker. It was discovered by odor of hot plastic. It smoked around 1 prong & blackened electric outlet under plug & on wall.

GE E40141

  • Date: 11/15/2012

The submitter reports that the night light was plugged into an outlet and within an hour the plastic was melting, putting off smoke. The bathroom sustained very little smoke damage.

GE

  • Date: 1/28/2013

Light was on for approximately 3 hours when consumer came into room & discovered that bulb was hanging from its base. It seemed as though bulb had exploded from base & it was black. Light fixture was not damaged. She experienced same problems with 4 bulbs from same pack.

GE FLE 20 HT3/2/SW

  • Date: 2/20/2013

The submitter reported that the CFL bulb malfunctioned and emitted smoke and flames from it's base causing smoke incident. Also reported is an injury to a 59-year-old female.

GE A15

  • Date: 6/9/2013

46 YOM reports that bulbs in ceiling fan would sepearate from base & detach, leaving glass bulb to hang on at least five different ocassions. He turned on lights & heard humming noise. Light bulb was smoking. Black debris & glass fell to table below. Base melted to socket.

GE 43AW/H2X-4/12LTP

  • Date: 11/4/2013

The consumer stated that she purchased these general purpose halogen light bulbs and put one into a lamp. She used the light for several hours then turned the lamp switch off. She stated that several minutes later, the light bulb exploded.

GE J3 12W 120V

  • Date: 6/18/2014

One of light bulbs in bathroom light fixture exploded while consumer's wife was in bathroom. Force of explosion ejected remnants of the bulb against ceiling and as far as 6 feet away. Expelled debris from bulb burned half dozen spits in flooring.

GE Helical 27W FLE27HLX/8/SW

  • Date: 7/7/2014

The consumer stated that when he turned the lamp on, it lit up only dimly. He left it on and, within 5 minutes, he smelled smoke and there was smoke and a small visible flame coming out of the base of the CFL bulb, where the flourescent tube comes out of the ceramic base.

GE Reveal 100 Watt

  • Date: 12/31/2014

Light bulb exploded in bathroom fixture while 55 YOM was in bathroom, showering him with glass.

GE 66249

  • Date: 3/19/2015

Consumer stated that she entered the bedroom where the light was on. When she walked in, there was loud bang & she heard glass falling within 3-4 feet radius of the floor lamp. She noticed that the light bulb had exploded. The consumer picked up and vacuumed the glass.

GE Helical 17W FLE17HLX/8/SW

  • Date: 8/9/2015

The consumer stated that the helical 17W fluorescent light bulb caught fire while in use in a ceiling fixture. The consumer stated that the fixture does not have a dimmer and is turned on and off ~ 4-5 times/day.

GE LED14DA21V/827W

  • Date: 10/15/2016

50 YOM consumer's LED light bulb caught fire while it was in chandelier. Consumer heard buzzing sound from chandelier and bulb started smoking from the top with sparks & flames following. Consumer turned off chandelier, and this stopped sparks and flames. Smoking continued.

GE Reveal PC 6770

  • Date: 10/21/2016

The consumer stated that the halogen light bulb exploded in their bathroom sending shards of glass everywhere. It was smoking, presenting a fire hazard. The consumer stated if someone had been in the bathroom at the time, a serious injury might have resulted.

GE 72 Watt 1270 Lumens 120 Volt

  • Date: 12/18/2016

Light bulb from overhead kitchen lighting fixture exploded while consumers were eating supper. Shards of glass flew everywhere, including into food. Bulb exploded from inside out; there is melted/burned hole in element inside. Bulb had been turned on for at least 1 hour.

GE A19 78797

  • Date: 1/9/2017

The consumer reported that the halogen bulb in an overhead fixture exploded after being turned off and sent glass shards over the bed below it. No one was in the bed when this happened and. No injuries reported.

GE 72W Ultra SW 120V

  • Date: 3/15/2017

Consumer's kids had light on for about hour. Few minutes after light was turned off consumer heard loud noise & kids screaming. Consumer reported that bulb in ceiling fixture exploded. There was glass all over room including on 8 YOM. There was white dust too.

GE 78798

  • Date: 4/24/2017

The consumer stated that the light bulb exploded in his kitchen table fixture. Glass went as far as 12 ft.

GE

  • Date: 12/2/2017

We had 2 separate incidents of light bulbs exploding & sending glass shards & hot particles in all directions. Hot particles melted strands of carpeting on the floor below. The bulbs were installed in a ceiling fixture that was open on top & had good air circulation around.

GE 72AWH/2X-4/12LTP

  • Date: 3/29/2018

The consumer reported that the light bulb suddenly exploded. It was in a wall-mounted socket near the ceiling that did not have a cover and had been working fine. Glass went everywhere, some of it hit his head and some went into food.

GE 100 Watt

  • Date: 5/1/2018

Consumer reported that soft white incandescent bulbs are exploding. Result was molten glass exploding outward from bulbs. No injuries, but carpet was melted & molten glass adhering to carpet. Carpet & table burned. Safety hazard.

GE 66249

  • Date: 4/8/2019

Light bulb exploded in bedroom lamp. This was 3rd incident in last year of these light bulbs exploding. 2nd incident was in bathroom fixture that caused slight burns to marble sink & linoleum flooring. Packaging has warning that these bulbs may cause fire or personal injury

GE A19

  • Date: 3/2/2021

The consumer turned his lightbulb on and after about 30 minutes the unit exploded. He indicated that there are still four of the same lightbulbs installed on the same fixture. The product was advertised as having a 13 year lifespan.

GE

  • Date: 3/13/2012

Consumer stated that bulb which was inserted into lamp began to spark & smoke after it was on for 30 minutes. She unplugged lamp from wall outlet immediately after. Bulb was blacked at insertion & insertion of lamp is also blackened.

GE 72W 120 Volt

  • Date: 8/21/2015

A light bulb being used in our bedroom light fixture literally exploded and all the fragments burned whole through my bed linens and carpet. It smelled of smoke.

GE Reveal

  • Date: 7/19/2017

Light bulb exploded on 14 YOF and 40 YOF. 40 YOF had white powder on legs. It left burn marks and cuts on 40 YOF, and it burned holes and melted glass in bedding. 40 YOF received first aid by non-medical professional.

GE 40 Watt

  • Date: 4/30/2021

The Consumer stated that he heard a loud bang and found two of the round globe decorative bulbs in the above-sink bathroom fixture had exploded, showering glass all over the place. The Consumer said if he had been at the sink, he would have probably been seriously injured.

GE 72 Watt

  • Date: 11/30/2021

The Consumer, 61, reported that the light bulb exploded. He reported injury to self.

GE Reveal 120 Volt 60 Watt

  • Date: 1/17/2013

A 59-YOM says all but two out of the 12 bulbs had the glass come out of the screw-in base. He says the adhesive used to hold the glass bulbs in place fails, leaving the bulb dangling by the wires until it too fails. He cut his finger removing the bulb base from a lamp.

GE Reveal 40 Watt G25

  • Date: 7/24/2018

65 YOM consumer purchased light bulbs of same make & model as 3-pack. One bulb failed within 24 hours, and the other one, glass fell out of base and hung by wires the same day. It then fell into sink as consumer attempted to remove it. Consumer implies this is safety hazard.

GE LED8DAGDL9-LT4

  • Date: 1/28/2021

64 YOM consumer reports that the light bulbs are defective. When attempting to unscrew the bulb from the base the glass portion separates from the A19 base and presents a potential shock orlaceration hazard as the glass portion breaks when it falls. Unsafe.

GE

  • Date: 3/14/2013

Consumer reports that halogen bulb in attachable wall light fixture used as bathroom vanity light overheated and plastic casing began to melt causing house fire. Fire dapartment concluded that fire was caused by light fixture. Circular hole was burnt into door.

GE Helical FLE 15HT3/2

  • Date: 4/29/2011

The bulbs in a bathroom fixture completely exposed, not enclosed or covered in the fixture in anyway. After the light was on for a few minutes, the bulb got extremely hot & starting smoking.

GE Princess 17486

  • Date: 7/14/2011

37 YOF is concerned regarding safety of night lights for kids. After turning them on, she could smell odor within 5-10min. It smells like chemical almost like kerosene or gasoline. Fumes were triggering her smoke detectors, which have carbon monoxide detectors as well.

GE A19 67295

  • Date: 6/9/2015

65yom reports that bulbs exploded in a small room (bathroom). He still had pieces of the bulb stuck in his shirt and his hair. No Injury.

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