The Bissell Steam Shot in your utility closet has probably been there for years. Perhaps you bought it on a whim at Target or during a Prime Day sale because the reviews were good and the price was competitive. It’s the type of appliance that is used seasonally, put back on the shelf, and mostly forgotten until the stovetop stain won’t go away or the grout needs to be cleaned. Small, inexpensive, and seemingly innocuous. This is why, when you actually stop to look at the numbers, the magnitude of this recall is so startling.
In collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, BISSELL voluntarily recalled over 3.2 million Steam Shot handheld steam cleaners in the United States on July 18, 2024. An additional 355,000 units sold in Canada were also subject to the recall. By the time the recall was made public, BISSELL had received 183 reports of the product unexpectedly releasing steam or hot water, including 157 reports of minor burn injuries. It’s not a rounding error. That amounts to 157 people who reached for a trusted household appliance and were literally burned for it.
| Recall Information | |
|---|---|
| Product Name | BISSELL® Steam Shot™ Handheld Steam Cleaner |
| Company | BISSELL Homecare Inc. |
| Headquarters | Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA |
| Recall Date | July 18, 2024 |
| Units Recalled | ~3.2 million (USA) + ~355,000 (Canada) |
| Recalled Model Series | 39N7 and 2994 |
| Sale Period | August 2008 – May 2024 |
| Original Retail Price | $35–$40 each; $70 for two-pack |
| Injury Reports | 183 total; 157 minor burn injuries |
| Recall Authority | U.S. CPSC (in cooperation with Health Canada) |
| Remedy Options | Replacement unit, $60 store credit, or $40 refund |
| Reference Website | BISSELL.com/steamshotrecall |
In some ways, this is more frustrating because the problem itself is simple. During normal operation or when the machine is heating up, the recalled steam cleaners may release steam or hot water onto users, creating a burn risk. It doesn’t need to be abused. Ignoring warning labels is not necessary.
When the machine heats up, the steam is released in the direction of the person holding it rather than where it should be. That’s a design flaw that cuts right to the bone for a product that’s marketed as making cleaning easier—something you hold in your hand and aim at a surface near your body.
Models in the 39N7 and 2994 series that were sold at Target, Walmart, Amazon, HSN, and other stores between August 2008 and May 2024 for $35 to $40, or $70 for a two-pack, are covered by the recall. That sixteen-year period is noteworthy.
This isn’t a product that was discontinued in a matter of months after it was released last spring. For more than ten years, these units have been in American and Canadian homes, piled up under sinks and in garages all over the nation. The model number is printed on a big black bar on the product rating label at the bottom of the device. This is a good time to check if you own one.
Founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1876, BISSELL has been in business for almost 150 years, an almost unbelievable run for a consumer goods company. Initially, the company made carpet sweepers by hand. The unglamorous household utility that consumers purchase once and assume will just function is how the company established its reputation.
A recall of this size is uncomfortable because of that heritage. Not because the company acted swiftly to resolve the issue—which it did, and it should be commended for that—but rather because 3.2 million units represent a large number of residences where the issue might have been identified sooner. The exact reason why the defect remained unreported or unfixed for the entire sixteen-year product run before the recall’s announcement is still unknown.
A replacement Steam Shot steam cleaner with attachments worth up to $49.99, a $60 digital credit toward a BISSELL.com purchase, or a $40 cash refund are the three options that BISSELL is providing to impacted customers. Cutting the cord close to the machine’s base, taking a picture of the cut cord and the model number label, and filling out the form at bissell.com/steamshotrecall are the steps involved in claiming any of these.
The $60 store credit expires in two years in most states, with no expiration in Washington State and longer windows in some Canadian provinces. Digital credits and refunds are issued within about six weeks of submission. The remediation program is reasonable, and compared to most recall procedures, the detailed instructions on BISSELL’s website are more understandable.
Observing how this transpired gives me the impression that the Steam Shot recall represents a larger problem with consumer appliance safety, which is neither unique to BISSELL nor unrelated. Price-conscious consumers who avoid extended warranties, keep appliances past their natural replacement cycles, and never register products with manufacturers are typically drawn to products priced between $35 and $40.
The final detail is crucial because, without registration, there is no direct way to contact a customer in the event that something goes wrong. The majority of the weight is placed on news coverage and the CPSC database. BISSELL can be contacted by email at RecallNA@bissell.com or by phone at 855-417-7001, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.
The instructions are clear: stop using the Steam Shot, unplug it, check the model number, and submit the recall form if it’s still in your home, whether it’s being used or not. Nobody’s day will be significantly improved by the $40 refund. However, burns caused by household cleaners are completely preventable and can be avoided in about fifteen minutes. It’s a fair trade. The wardrobe can wait.
