Shop Vac vacuum cleaners
8 reports to CPSC, the latest made May 16, 2024. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 8reports to CPSC
- May 16, 2024the latest report was made
- Mar 27, 2012the earliest
- 1with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Shop Vac
- Maker
- SHOP-VAC CORPORATIONMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Vacuum cleanersCPSC’s product type: Vacuum Cleaners (code 115), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Home Cleaning Appliances & Equipment
Other ways the reports write the brand (4)
“Shop-vac”, “ShopVac”, “ShopVac model # QPSH400 or Model # 87707-91” and “Shopvac”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | 1 |
| October 2022 | 1 |
| September 2017 | 1 |
| August 2017 | 1 |
| September 2013 | 1 |
| July 2013 | 1 |
| August 2012 | 1 |
| March 2012 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- No one hurt 7 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
No one hurt Made May 16, 2024, sent to the company May 24, 2024, published by CPSC Jun 10, 2024
The product, in the report: ShopVac Vacuum Model SL14-600C
I was using my shopvac vacuum Model SL14-600c I used it for about 30 minutes doing regular cleaning all of a sudden it stopped working I touched the top where the motor sits and it was very hot so hot that it I guess was using so much power that it would trip the circuit causing me to reset it however I believe this vacuum is a fire hazard.I notified shopvac about and they did nothing.
- Model
- SL14-600C
- Where
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand ShopVac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Oct 26, 2022, sent to the company Oct 31, 2022, published by CPSC Nov 15, 2022
The product, in the report: Shop vac on wheels
1 year old shop-vac caught on fire, the fire Wes internal
- Model
- Sl14-600c
- UPC
- None
- Serial number
- None
- Bought from
- Lowes
- Bought
- Jul 14, 2021
- Where
- Lehigh acres, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 54, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Shop-vac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Sep 28, 2017, sent to the company Feb 15, 2018, published by CPSC Mar 2, 2018
The product, in the report: Shopvac Model 16LT550A; a home style 16 gallon wet dry vacuum
I was using my Shopvac Model 16LT550A to pick up drywall and wood dust from a project in my house. When the work was completed, I attempted to turn the Shopvac off but the motor only slowed. I attempted several more times in rapid succession to turn off or turn back on the vacuum but after about three seconds, the switch area began to smoke and caught fire. The fire must have shorted a connection as the Shopvac motor did quit. No breakers were thrown during the incident. The vacuum has had difficulty in turning off previous to this incident. The vacuum is about two years old and was bought at Lowes in Morehead, KY after a previous but smaller Shopvac suffered similar issues with the on/off switch, but not fire.
- Model
- 16LT550A
- Serial number
- 52741-29
- Bought from
- Lowe’s
- Bought
- Jan 2, 2015, about then
- Where
- Clearfield, Kentucky: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 65, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Shopvac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Aug 17, 2017, sent to the company Dec 27, 2017, published by CPSC Jan 23, 2018
The product, in the report: 6 gallon wet/dry vacuum
I have a Shop Vac model K12-300A purchased in 2013. When I turned it on recently the switch shorted, starting an electrical fire. Luckily I was able to disconnect it before anything besides the vacuum was damaged (the switch melted in the closed position). I contacted Shop Vac and was told I could purchase a new motor unit, which I have ordered. I asked them if they were going to respond to me regarding this serious safety defect (a switch shouldn’t catch fire, as it’s supposed to be within 1 wire, usually the black power line). They haven’t responded. If one panics for even a few minutes the whole motor assembly will burst into flames (it was starting to flame in the 10-15 seconds it took me to disconnect it).
- Model
- Model K12-300A
- Bought from
- Novey
- Bought
- Oct 10, 2013
- Where
- Boquete, Panama: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 74, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Shop Vac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Sep 3, 2013, sent to the company Sep 11, 2013, published by CPSC Sep 25, 2013
The product, in the report: Shop Vac model 4045AH 5 gallons wet/dry vacuum UL listed 684B 52740-99 is another code on the label
My Shop Vac model 4045AH caught fire.
We plugged our Shop Vac into a properly grounded 3-prong receptacle. When we turned on the motor, it instantly began throwing orange sparks and caught fire internally. We immediately unplugged it and took it outside.
Those few seconds of operation filled the room with a smoky electrical fire haze. We vented the room for a while before closing the house back up. The room smelled for two days, and the motor itself still smells of the electrical fire after three days.
- Model
- 4045AH
- Bought from
- Menards, Iowa
- Bought
- Jan 8, 2012
- Where
- Grimes, Iowa: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Shop Vac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jul 1, 2013, sent to the company Jul 10, 2013, published by CPSC Jul 24, 2013
The product, in the report: Shop Vac 4 hp wall hanging Blue and Gray in color
This is a ShopVac wall hanging wet/dry vacuum purchased from a Lowe’s store approximately 5 years ago. It is used in our garage to vacuum out our vehicles and clean up small messes from projects. However it has never been used as a wet vac. This is the second time this particular problem has happened with this vacuum. The first time the housing around the On/Off switch got so hot it melted around the switch. This time it got very hot to the touch and my wife said when she went to turn it off she felt a mild shock. After the first incident ShopVac replaced the defective switch, without cost, no questions asked. This leads me to believe that they were or are aware of this problem. After that incident we always unplugged the vacuum after use. When it use it did not trip the GFI outlet it was plugged into nor did it pop the circuit breaker. ShopVac 4.0hp Model# QPSH400 or Model# 87707-91. I can not locate a serial number on the unit.
- Model
- Wall Hangin
- Bought from
- Lowes, South Carolina
- Bought
- Dec 15, 2010, about then
- Where
- Aiken, South Carolina: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 50, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand ShopVac model # QPSH400 or Model # 87707-91, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Aug 15, 2012, sent to the company Sep 21, 2012, published by CPSC Oct 5, 2012
The product, in the report: Series 14L Small 6 gal, 3hp wet/dry Shop Vac
Callers purchased a new, Shop-Vac brand small utility vacuum cleaner Model# , Series 14L Wet/Dry, at nearby store June 20, 2012 but with first use the wife began becoming very sick. She was sick to her stomach and had the severe headache for about three days.
It was apparently due to some form of a “solvent” that the cylindrical pleated filter element was treated with at the factory.
She noticed a chemical odor immediately upon first use of the vacuum cleaner in a closed area at a mountain cabin. After about two hours, she had a severe, dizzying headache and sudden projectile vomiting.
We would like to have this filter tested for the apparently noxious chemical that caused my wife’s sickness, so that others don’t endure the same debilitating effects.
- Model
- 334639
- UPC
- 026282933065
- Bought from
- Lowe’s, Nevada
- Bought
- Jun 20, 2012
- Where
- Duck Creek, Utah: Place of Recreation or Sports
- Who was involved
- Age 62, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Shop Vac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No one hurt Made Mar 27, 2012, sent to the company Apr 27, 2012, published by CPSC May 11, 2012
The product, in the report: Vacuum cleaner
The consumer stated that while she was vacuuming for approximately 20-30 mins, she noticed smoke emitting from the vacuum cleaner motor. She immediately unplugged it , however the smoke was so immense it filled up the room. She and her 4 year old child received medical attention because she feared having smoke inhalation but they were no injuries. There were no property damages.
The consumer stated that she had the hose replaced before because it was broken but the incident was caused by the on switch which stayed on and she was unable to turn it off, which might have overheated.
3/13/12 The manufacturer was contacted and she was advised that the vacuum cleaner would be replaced if she returned it. She declined because she was advised to keep it for proof.
The consumer feels that this vacuum cleaner is a fire hazard and should be reported.
- Model
- KA450
- UPC
- unknown
- Serial number
- 52738-26
- Bought from
- Walmart, New York
- Bought
- Mar 1, 2011, about then
- Where
- Spencerport, New York: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 4, Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Shop Vac, made or sold by SHOP-VAC CORPORATION
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.