Champion Power Equipment Recalls Portable Generators for Fire Hazard

Champion Power Equipment just issued a recall of 8,600 portable generators over fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The recalled portable generators were manufactured in China by Champion Power Equipment of Santa Fe Springs, California, and were sold exclusively at Costco Wholesale stores, nationwide, from December 2011 through July 2012. The recalled portable generators sold for about $699.

The Champion Power Equipment’s Portable Generators’ fuel can leak from the generator’s carburetor, which poses a fire hazard. To date, there have been 11 reports of fuel leaking from the generators, including eight reports of the generators catching fire and two reports of property damage.

This recall involves two models of Champion Power Equipment portable generators. Both portable generators are constructed with a black frame with black and yellow control panels, a bar handle, and two wheels.

The generator with model number 41332 is constructed with an open frame and the words “Champion Power Equipment” can be found on the control panel and “8250 starting watts” and “6500 running watts” can be found on the side of the fuel tank. Portable generator model number 41532 is constructed with side panels that cover the long sides of the fuel tank. The words “Champion Power Equipment” can be found on the side panel above the control panel and the words “9000 starting watts” and “7000 running watts” on the control panel.

The model number and serial number are located on the side of the generator with the handle and are located on a tag on the crossbar above the yellow generator end cap.

The model numbers and serial number ranges involved are:

• Model number 41332; serial number range: 11NOV2600701 to 11NOV2601500.
• Model number 41532; serial number ranges: 11NOV1400151 to 11NOV1400360, 11DEC0700001 to 11DEC0700720, 11DEC1301077 to 11DEC1402602, 11DEC2201801 to 11DEC2203600, 11DEC2501531 to 11DEC2503330, 11DEC2801073 to 11DEC2801325

The firm and the CPSC are advising consumers to stop using the recalled Champion Power Equipment portable generators immediately and contact Champion Power Equipment for a free repair kit. The repair kit must be installed by an authorized dealer. Consumers may also return the recalled portable generators to Costco for a full refund.

Champion Power Equipment may be reached, toll-free, at 1.855.236.9424, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time (PT),  Monday through Friday; by email at support@cpeauto.com; or online at www.championpowerequipment.com (click on the red “Important Product Recall Notice” link for more information).