Generac Portable Generator Finger Amputations Result in Recall For 321K Devices

Federal safety officials have announced yet another Generac portable generator recall, after receiving additional reports of consumers suffering finger amputations, crushed fingers and other injuries caused by the generator’s sharp handle.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Generac portable generator recall on November 10, impacting more than 300,000 portable generators sold nationwide, indicating that the agency is aware of dozens of reports of consumers suffering laceration and finger crushing injuries.

The Generac portable generators were initially recalled in July 2021, after only eight reports of injuries, seven resulting in finger amputations and one finger crushing. However, since the initial recall, the CPSC has received 29 additional injury reports, 24 of which have resulted in finger amputations and another five reports of crushed fingers.

The recalled portable generators are gasoline-powered engines used for electricity. The machines have two wheels and a grip handlebar, which is a U-shaped two-grip, flip-up pin-lock handle to help move the generator. According to reports, the portable handguard can pinch, crush, or even amputate fingers if they get caught in between the guard and the metal rod while moving it.

The recall affects Generac’s 6500-watt and 8000-watt portable generators, unit types XT8000E, XT8000EFI, GP6500, GP6500, GP8000E, HomeLink 6500E, DR’s models PRO 6500M, and PRO 6500E. The recall impacts 32 models in total and includes all of the generators that were purchased after the recall in July 2021.

Approximately 325,735 generators are affected by the recall, of which 321,160 units were sold throughout the U.S. and another 4,575 were distributed for sale in Canada.

Customers may have purchased the recalled generators at major hardware stores nationwide and through online retailers such as Ace Hardware, Amazon, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, City Electric Supply, Costco, Do it Best, Fastenal, Home Depot, Lowe’s Stores, Napa Auto Parts, Northern Tool & Equipment, Orgill, Power Equipment Direct, Ravitsky Bros., True Value, and W.W. Grainger.

The generators were manufactured in the U.S. and China by Generac Power Systems, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and were sold from June 2013 through June 2021 for around $790 to $1,480 depending on the model.

CPSC officials recommend consumers stop using the portable generators unless the locking pin has been inserted to secure the handle in place before moving the generator. Consumers should Generac for a free repair kit, which consists of a set of spacers to keep the handle away from the frame. The spacers remove the pinch point causing the injuries. Consumers who have responded to a repair kit from the 2021 recall will receive a new repair kit automatically.

Consumers with generators affected by the recall can contact Generac for their free repair kit and for any questions or concerns. Consumers can call the manufacturer at 844-242-3493 or visit Generac’s Redemption Center for additional information.