Rheem water heaters, kind not given
9 reports to CPSC, the latest made Jul 6, 2021. 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.
- 9reports to CPSC
- Jul 6, 2021the latest report was made
- Jan 30, 2012the earliest
- 0with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Rheem
- Maker
- Rheem Sales Company, IncMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Water heaters, kind not givenCPSC’s product type: Water Heaters, Not Specified (code 134), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Plumbing & Bath
Other ways the reports write the brand (2)
“Rheem Energy Efficient Vanguard” and “Rheem Platinum Water Heater”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| July 2021 | 1 |
| June 2021 | 2 |
| November 2020 | 1 |
| March 2020 | 1 |
| November 2019 | 1 |
| October 2019 | 1 |
| December 2016 | 1 |
| January 2012 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- No one hurt 8 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- No incident, no one hurt 1 CPSC: No 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 Jul 6, 2021, sent to the company Jul 12, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 26, 2021
The product, in the report: Rheem Hybrid hot water tank; model number: HB50ES Size: 50 gallon
Item - Hot water tank (for home). Issue: Catastrophic failure of circuit board failure; scorching - potential for fire in (plastic filled) unit. Manufacture: Rheem. Model number: HB50ES.
- Model
- HB50ES
- Serial number
- N301300253A
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Washington
- Bought
- Dec 31, 2013, about then
- Where
- Unspecified: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 61, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jun 20, 2021, sent to the company Jul 6, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 20, 2021
The product, in the report: RHEEM WATER HEATER SER#RH Q241414728,MOD #XE30T06MH45U0,MANUFACTURE DATE 12 JUN 2014
BOTTOM ELEMENT THERMOSTAT BURNT,CAUGHT FIRE
- Model
- XE30T06MH45U0
- Serial number
- Q241414728
- Bought from
- HOME DEPOT, Louisiana
- Bought
- Oct 15, 2015, about then
- Where
- United States Minor Outlying Islands: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand RHEEM, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jun 14, 2021, sent to the company Aug 3, 2021, published by CPSC Aug 17, 2021
The product, in the report: Water heater
Caller stated that she is experienced similar problems of recall [REDACTED] Hazard: The control panel on the water heaters can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.
She stated that the problem started approximately 2 weeks ago. The water alarm displayed an error of a faulty wiring. The company was contacted and they advised that her model was not included in a recall. Caller stated that the unit was installed 4 years ago. Caller feels that the water heater should be included in a recall.
When I spoke with Rheem, I explained what the unit was doing & they kept saying reset the code
On 6/13 - our water heater had complete loss of power - once we opened the cover - water was pouring out of the heater rod. I call Rheem & they said we had to have a plumber to diagnose.
6/15 plumber came out & water destroyed our control board & ruined the heater - we had to replace it completely. He said we’re very lucky it didn’t cause a fire
- Model
- XE50T12EC55U1
- Serial number
- Q421636916
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Pennsylvania
- Bought
- Jan 7, 2017, about then
- Where
- Ligonier, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No incident, no one hurt Made Nov 2, 2020, sent to the company Nov 17, 2020, published by CPSC Dec 2, 2020
The product, in the report: Rheem performance platinum electric water heaters. 50 gallons. The control panel on the water heater is overheating and posing a fire and burn hazard. Model XE40M12EC55UO
For the last few days, my wife and I have been noticing a burning smell coming from the garage. We couldn’t determine the source of the smell until late yesterday when I was in the garage while my wife was taking a shower. The smell was originating from our RHEEM Platinum Water Heater.
I immediately shut off the breaker to the water heater and proceeded to open the digital control panel where I noticed smoke and black marks around one of the wires connected to the panel.
I immediately went online to determine whether any one else may have reported a similar problem. I immediately found information related to a recall with my very same water heater; however, when I enter the model and serial number, the site tells me my water heater is not part of the recall. This simply is not true.
My water heater is the same brand and it was purchased at a Home Depot. Furthermore, my model number is the same as those listed XE50M12EC55U0 and my serial number A081520571 falls within the series of numbers displayed online “A0114XXXXX to A5214XXXXX”.
Again, this could have been a much more serious problem had I not been in the garage. We have two kids and a dog and we could have easily lost all or a part of our home to a fire.
- Model
- XE40M12EC55UO
- Serial number
- A081520571
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Florida
- Bought
- Jun 2, 2015
- Where
- Miami, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem Platinum Water Heater, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Mar 12, 2020, sent to the company Mar 23, 2020, published by CPSC Apr 6, 2020
The product, in the report: Water Heater
Water heater blew circuit breaker. Electrician tried to reset but stated it was a short. Electrician opened the electrical connection box on top of the heater and the wires were burned and the wire nuts melted.
Contacted Rheem and they said the internal wiring can’t be replaced and is covering under warranty.
Recall modification had been done in 2016
- Model
- XE50m12ec55u0
- Serial number
- a131404986
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Where
- Narvon, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Nov 29, 2019, sent to the company Dec 13, 2019, published by CPSC Dec 31, 2019
The product, in the report: Rheem water heater, 50 gallon tank. Model XE50T12EC55U1
Water heater shorted out and the power connections caught fire, replaced wires and it began to work. The electrical panel shorted out the next day. Rheem water heater, model number XE50T12EC55U1, serial number A111602415. Model number XE50T12EC55U0 has already been recalled for panel over heating and fire risks. Occurred on 11-27-2019, and 11-28-2019.
- Model
- XE50T12EC55U1
- UPC
- 2035264442
- Serial number
- A111602415
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Virginia
- Bought
- Apr 11, 2016
- Where
- South Chesterfield, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Oct 22, 2019, sent to the company Nov 25, 2019, published by CPSC Dec 10, 2019
The product, in the report: water heater in mobile home
(10/07/2019) The consumer stated that she was in the home when she heard water running. When she went outside to check, water was pouring out of the water heater box. There was black around the bottom of the water heater indication that there was a fire. The plastic device near the bottom of the water heater that drains the water was melted. Also, the paperwork that was attached to the product had burned.
The consumer stated that the fire caused $600 worth of damage to her sprinkler system.
The consumer contacted Rheem and was advised that product was over the warranty time limit.
- Model
- 24140FT1
- Serial number
- Q081818621
- Bought from
- in hime when purchased, California
- Where
- Anza, California: Mobile/
Manufactured Home - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Dec 31, 2016, sent to the company Jan 18, 2017, published by CPSC Feb 2, 2017
The product, in the report: Rheem hot water heater: Serial Number RH A311408993
My Rheem hotwater heater started on fire and filled my laundry room with black smoke. I learned the control device was on voluntary recall. I do not recall being told about any recall and if I had not been home and responded to the smell of smoke when I went downstairs I might have had a serious house fire because I discovered it just in time. Serial Number: RH A311408993
Rheem apparently told the service contract provider not to contact customers (this is what I was told) about this voluntary recall. Home Depot sold over 45,000 of these devices with the controller and I want this device placed on Mandatory recall and repair. Why risk the lives of thousands of people. I was home and if I had not gone downstairs this could have been tragic. I am glad we were not sleeping at night in our beds. Your reporting system for attaching photos does not work.
- Model
- XE50M12EC55UO
- Serial number
- RH A311408993
- Bought from
- HOME DEPOT, Virginia
- Where
- Manassas, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jan 30, 2012, sent to the company Feb 29, 2012, published by CPSC Mar 14, 2012
The product, in the report: Rheem Water Heater
Water heater exploded on a second floor of a medical building resulting in water and electrical damages. (see attached report).
- Model
- 1PZ78
- Serial number
- VG 0303274544
- Where
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: Other Public Property/
Office - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Rheem Energy Efficient Vanguard, made or sold by Rheem Sales Company, Inc
- 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
-
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.