Nearly 5 Million Bissell Steam Cleaners Recalled Over Burns — Now a Class Action Says the Fix Falls Short

If you own a Bissell Steam Shot handheld steam cleaner, check the model number on the bottom of the unit today. Two separate recalls have now pulled nearly 5 million of these popular cleaners after reports that attachments can pop off during use — spraying scalding hot water or steam directly onto the person holding it.

The most recent recall, announced in April 2026, covers about 1.7 million units. It follows a much larger 2024 recall of roughly 3.2 million older models. And in the spring of 2026, buyers began filing proposed class action lawsuits arguing that Bissell’s recall — a replacement part or a modest refund — doesn’t come close to covering a serious burn.

What Happened

The Bissell Steam Shot is a small, handheld cleaner that uses pressurized steam and hot water to clean hard surfaces. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the problem is with the attachments that snap onto the nozzle.

The CPSC recall notice states that the attachments “can come off while the product is being used,” allowing scalding hot water or steam to spray onto consumers. In plain terms: you’re cleaning, an attachment lets go under pressure, and hot water or steam hits your hand, arm, or face.

The April 9, 2026 recall covers roughly 1.7 million Steam Shot OmniReach and Steam Shot Omni cleaners sold from October 2024 through March 2026 at Target, Walmart and other stores, and online at bissell.com, Amazon and HSN. At the time of that recall, the CPSC reported 206 incidents of hot water or steam escaping and 161 burn injuries, including at least one second-degree burn.

That recall came on top of a much larger one. In July 2024, Bissell recalled about 3.2 million older Steam Shot handheld cleaners (model series 39N7 and 2994) sold going back to 2008, after 183 reports of hot water or steam escaping and 157 burn injuries. Taken together, the two recalls cover nearly 5 million cleaners in the United States.

What the Recall Offers — And Why People Are Suing Anyway

Bissell asked owners of the recalled cleaners to register at BISSELL.com/steamshotrecall. According to court filings, the recall gives owners a choice among a replacement part, a $40 refund, a $60 credit toward another Bissell product, or a replacement unit.

That, the lawsuits say, is the problem.

Beginning in the spring of 2026, buyers filed at least two proposed class actions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in Chicago — including Khalil v. Bissell Homecare Inc., filed April 23, 2026 (related dockets include Case Nos. 1:26-cv-04641 and 1:26-cv-04223). The complaints allege that:

• The cleaners share a design defect that lets attachments detach and spray scalding water and steam;
• Bissell allegedly knew about the hazard from consumer complaints, incident reports, and its own internal data, yet kept marketing the cleaners as safe for household use; and
• The recall remedy is inadequate — a replacement attachment doesn’t fix the underlying design, and a refund or store credit doesn’t make injured buyers whole.

The lawsuits ask the court to let them represent buyers nationwide and in Illinois, and they seek refunds and damages for the class. These are allegations. A court has not ruled on them, and Bissell has not been found liable. A recall carried out with the CPSC is a safety step — not a legal finding of fault.

Who May Have a Claim

You may want to look into your options if:

• You bought or used a recalled Bissell Steam Shot — a Steam Shot OmniReach or Steam Shot Omni from the 2026 recall, or an older Steam Shot handheld model (series 39N7 or 2994) from the 2024 recall;
• An attachment came off, or hot water or steam sprayed out during use; and
• You or someone in your home was burned or scalded — on the hand, arm, face, or elsewhere.

A refund or store credit covers the price of the cleaner. It does not cover a burn injury, a trip to urgent care, time missed from work, or scarring. If you were hurt, that gap is exactly what the class action is fighting about.

What to Do If You Own One of These Cleaners

First, stop using the cleaner and check the model number on the bottom against the CPSC recall list, then follow Bissell’s recall instructions to get the replacement part, refund, credit, or replacement unit.

If you were injured, taking the recall refund does not necessarily end your options — but every state has a deadline for taking legal action, and waiting can cost you the right to recover. The form on this page is free, and a real person will review what happened and reach out if you may have a case.

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