Generac Portable Generators Recalled Amid Reports of Burns, Injuries

Federal safety officials have issued a recall of Generac portable generators, following reports of consumers sustaining severe burn injuries.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Generac portable generator recall on September 14, indicating the pressure can build up in the fuel tank due to inadequate ventilation, causing fuel to shoot out when opened. The expelled fuel can seriously burn consumers or start a fire.

According to the recall notice, the manufacturer has become aware of at least 27 incidents involving the generators expelling fuel onto consumers after overheating and pressurizing, which has resulted in at least three severe burn injuries.

Generac Portable Generator Recall

The recall impacts approximately 64,000 Generac portable generators, including type GP15000E, with model numbers G0057341, G0057342, 005734R1, and 005734R2, as well as type GP17500E, with model numbers G0057351, G0057352, 005735R1, and 005735R2.

The generators were distributed online and in major home improvement stores from April 2011 until June 2023, and retailed for between $3,300 and $3,650.

For more information, or to receive a free repair kit, consumers may contact Generac by phone at 888-391-0503 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. They may also visit their website at www.generac.com/GPenhancements or www.generac.com, and click on “Important Recall Information” at the top of the page.

Generac Generator Problems

This is the second major recall Generac has faced within a year.

Approximately 325,735 generators were initially recalled in July 2021, following reports of injuries. However, the CPSC reannounced in the recall in November 2022 due to dozens of additional injury reports, which resulted in at least 24 more finger amputations and at least five crushed fingers. More than 300,000 additional Generac portable generators were recalled at that point, following reports of consumers suffering finger amputation, crushed fingers, and other injuries from the sharp handles.

The July and November recall notices indicated that the handle of the 6500 watt and 8000 watt Generac portable generators could pinch, crush, or even amputate consumers’ fingers if they are caught in between the guard and the metal rod while moving it. The CPSC reached a settlement agreement with Generac Power Systems in May 2023, and imposed a $15.8 million civil penalty for its failure to report the generator problems and numerous consumer injury reports, which delayed the initial 2021 recall and resulted in additional consumer injuries.

The agreement was approved in a 4-0 vote by the commission, requiring the manufacturer to implement a new system of compliance procedures, and submit annual reports to the agency for the next three years.

According to the CPSC, Generac was aware of the defective generator handles since as early as October 2018. However, the agency was not notified of the issue until at least five consumers suffered finger amputations and required hospitalization, surgery, or were permanently disfigured.