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Vicks humidifiers

11 reports to CPSC, the latest made Sep 30, 2026. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search, on saferproducts.gov

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At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

  • 11reports to CPSC
  • Sep 30, 2026the latest report was made
  • Jun 16, 2011the earliest
  • 3with the company’s comments
Brand
Vicks
Makers
KAZ INC. and Helen of TroyMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product
HumidifiersCPSC’s product type: Humidifiers (code 304), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Other ways the reports write the brand (3)

“Vick’s”, “Vick’s Filter Free Humidifier” and “Vicks Filter Free Plus CoolMist Ultrasonic Humidif”

By month

2 reports from October 2025 to September 2026; the most in September 2026, 1. 9 earlier reports, since June 2011, are in the table.
The numbers, as a table
Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
MonthReports
September 20261
August 20261
September 20251
November 20231
December 20211
March 20211
July 20121
January 20121
December 20111
October 20111
June 20111

How badly anyone was hurt

  • Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
  • Hurt, no treatment 4 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  • No one hurt 6 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.

Source:

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  1. No one hurt

    Made Sep 30, 2026, sent to the company Oct 7, 2026, published by CPSC Oct 22, 2026

    The product, in the report: Vicks filter free plus cool mist humidifier

    I bought a new humidifier yesterday, vicks model vul565, and set it up according to the directions. I noticed before I went to bed that it wasn’t sending out mist, so I double checked that it was level on the surface, and the tank was seated properly, and it still wasn’t working so I turned it off, but left it plugged in. I left for work, and when my husband got home he noticed a burning smell. The humidifier has been leaking a tiny amount at a time, and had dripped into a surge protector. It shorted out and burned the carpet underneath it. No one was injured and the carpet did not have a spreading fire

    Model
    Kaz USA, a Helen of Troy company
    UPC
    328785006605
    Serial number
    02126dev
    Bought from
    Cvs
    Bought
    Sep 29, 2026
    Where
    LONDONDERRY, New Hampshire: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Unspecified
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  2. No one hurt

    Made Aug 25, 2026, sent to the company Aug 31, 2026, published by CPSC Sep 15, 2026

    The product, in the report: The box and name is Vicks Mini FilterFree Cool Mist Humidifier. It is used by putting half a gallon of water inside and then turning it on. It is used to humidify a room.

    The machine turned on and there was a sound of bubbling from the humidifier. After a while it got hot, but the instruction say nothing so it was left there for some almost 4 hours as the box says it can run upto 24 hours. After some times there was a smell and when I got close, I it was a little melted in the front. So I unplug the product and let it rest as it was hot to touch. When cooled, it was not able to be opened. When opened from the bottom side the affected area was shown. That thing heats up and causes the machine to heat up but the heat did no decipate and instead was help in causing the melting.

    Model
    VUL525
    UPC
    328785006520
    Bought from
    Redwood Pharmacy Center
    Bought
    Aug 18, 2026, about then
    Where
    Kearns, Utah: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Unspecified
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  3. Hurt, no treatment

    Made Sep 16, 2025, sent to the company Sep 19, 2025, published by CPSC Nov 17, 2025

    The product, in the report: White tall desktop humidifier it has a tube that goes from the base into the unit that holds the water Black mold grows in this tube. I believe it is a design defect or a defect in what the product it made of that allows this to happen

    While cleaning my Vicks humidifier model VUL565 I found black mold growing in the tube.

    Model
    VUL565
    UPC
    Unknown
    Serial number
    JHU565DC
    Bought from
    Target
    Bought
    Apr 22, 2025
    Where
    Las Vegas, Nevada: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 61, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks Filter Free Plus CoolMist Ultrasonic Humidif, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  4. Emergency room

    Made Nov 16, 2023, sent to the company Nov 21, 2023, published by CPSC Dec 6, 2023

    The product, in the report: Vicks Warm Humidifier

    On 11/14/2023 at approximately 8:30pm EST, my wife and I were putting our 5 year old daughter to bed. During this time, we plugged in her Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier due to her current cold and ear infection. Note, her humidifier was on top of her dresser, more than 5 feet away from her bed. After putting her to bed, my wife and I went downstairs. During that time, my daughter unknowingly wanted to have her humidifier closer to her bed so it could help her breathe, and sought to move her humidifier closer to her bed on the floor - something we have done before but either my wife or I would set it up. The humidifier tank holder proceeding to fall and water spilt on the left side of my daughter’s chest, parts of her shoulder, and neck. She immediately screamed, which we rushed upstairs - the water was so hot that it burnt her skin, causing me to rush her to the ER. The doctor determined that it was a second degree burn, and treated my daughter for that. Her chest and parts of her shoulder/neck have second degree burns from water - we put no additional product in the humidifier. I do not agree that the water should be so hot within the type of humidifier to cause that level of pain, let alone should require a warning label in plain site.

    Model
    V745A
    Bought from
    Amazon
    Bought
    Sep 27, 2018
    Where
    Georgetown, Kentucky: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 4, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    My Child
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
  5. No one hurt

    Made Dec 8, 2021, sent to the company Jan 25, 2022, published by CPSC Feb 8, 2022

    The product, in the report: Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier Model: VWM845

    Your Complaint The VICKS warm mist humidifier in my 3yr old son’s room caught on fire last night just before bedtime. He alerted me saying ?it smelled weird? and indeed it smelled like burning electrical wire. The humidifier would not turn off, and as I turned the knob back and forth, I could see a candle-like flickering inside it as the wires burned. Unplugging it stopped the small fire but the smoke continued to pour out. I rushed it to our garage and took it apart to see what happened and make sure it was not still burning. In the images link below, you can see the black box behind the knob had ignited the wires next to it. Thankfully this happened at 7pm and not in the middle of the night. The unit is less than a year old and used pretty infrequently. This was pretty scary as we have the same unit in our 6mo old’s room. I immediately turned that unit off and took it out of his room. I contacted VICK’s Consumer Relations department today. They apologized and asked that I send them the burned unit, and would replace it. This unit is not recalled but obviously there is some concern. The ref for my case with them is [REDACTED]. Images of the unit can be seen here: [REDACTED]

    Model
    VWM845
    Bought
    Dec 2, 2020
    Where
    Sun Priarie, Wisconsin: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 3, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  6. Hurt, no treatment

    Made Mar 24, 2021, sent to the company Apr 1, 2021, published by CPSC Apr 15, 2021

    The product, in the report: Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier ...1.0 Gal capacity Model V745A (32GB0745B14R2) Model V745A UPC 3 28785 20745 3

    I scalded/burned my foot as I was placing the filled water tank back onto the base unit of the humidifier. As I turned the newly filled tank of water over and held the handle, the handle separated from the tank and fell onto the base unit that still had hot water in it. The base unit tipped over landing on my slippered foot, completely saturating my slipper with scalding hot water and after some confusion of not realizing what happened, I saw I burned my foot. My foot was burned with what I think was a 1st to 2nd degree burn.

    Model
    V745A
    UPC
    3 28785 20745 3
    Bought from
    Amazon
    Bought
    Oct 26, 2019
    Where
    Hillsdale, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 78, Unknown
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  7. No one hurt

    Made Jul 11, 2012, sent to the company Jul 30, 2012, published by CPSC Aug 13, 2012

    The product, in the report: Vicks filter free cool air humidifier. P/N: 30LB4450UA0

    When I turned the humidifier off, it started smoking and smelled of burning plastic. I turned it back on to make sure it hadn’t been happening through the night in my children’s room and it seemed to be functioning normally again but as soon as I turned the humidifier off again, it started smoking and smelling badly again until I unplugged it.

    Model
    V4450, P/N: 30LB4450UA0
    Bought from
    Wal-Mart, Illinois
    Bought
    Aug 1, 2011, about then
    Where
    Romeoville, Illinois: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 1, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    My Child
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  8. Hurt, no treatment

    Made Jan 9, 2012, sent to the company Jan 25, 2012, published by CPSC Feb 8, 2012

    The product, in the report: Vick’s Warm Mist Humidifier by Kaz Humidifies air with steam Model V745A No serial number found on product

    Using the Vick’s Warm Mist Humidifier. After refilling with water, the handle broke off and fell down. Hit ankle and had minor bruising. Water was all over the floor.

    Model
    V745A
    Serial number
    None on product
    Where
    Grover, Missouri: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 45, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    My Spouse
    As this report names them
    Brand Vick’s, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  9. No one hurt

    Made Dec 26, 2011, sent to the company May 15, 2012, published by CPSC May 30, 2012

    The product, in the report: A Vicks Cool Mist humidifier

    We recently purchased a humidifier made by Vicks. (A Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier from Target)

    The humidifier was very loud on the highest setting and still pretty loud on the lowest setting. The real problem with the humidifier was its horrible design. It leaked water everywhere when we plugged it in and left it in our 2-year-old’s room. I am concerned that this product could electrocute someone or catch on fire if the water all leaked out and the humidifier continued running.

    Model
    Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier
    UPC
    328785231007
    Serial number
    v3100
    Bought from
    SuperTarget
    Bought
    Dec 11, 2011
    Where
    Edmond, Oklahoma: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 2, Unspecified
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  10. Hurt, no treatment

    Made Oct 5, 2011, sent to the company Oct 13, 2011, published by CPSC Oct 27, 2011

    The product, in the report: Room Humidifier, Ultrasonice, Cool Mist Vicks Model V5100N, 1.5 gal capacity Mfg by Kaz, Inc

    on first time of use, the new humidifier set off fire alarm waking two adults from sleep. after silencing the alarm and looking for the source, discovered the humidifier had produced smokey-appearing particulate haze in the bedroom. the hazy material in the air caused a feeling of raspy throat and bitter taste in one adult and mild asthma reaction in another adult.

    inspecting the humidifier after the incident, there was a brownish discoloration to the water collected in the ultrasonic base unit and demineralization cartridge and some foreign material on the outside of the unit. the foreign material on the outside of the unit had been noticed when the unit was un-boxed.

    this humidifier was filled with clear tap water prior to its operation on this occassion, as well as another model humidifer in a second bedroom which operated without incident.

    previously, Vicks brand humidifers as well as other brands have been operated in this same bedroom location for several years without incident

    Vicks Model V5100N (on unit) or V5100JUV (on box), 1.5 gal capacity Mfg by Kaz, Inc Purchased at Drug Mart, Independence, OH on October 2, 2011

    Model
    V5100N on unit (V5100JUV on box)
    Serial number
    none
    Bought from
    Drug Mart, Ohio
    Bought
    Oct 2, 2011
    Where
    Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 50, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    My Spouse
    As this report names them
    Brand Vicks, made or sold by KAZ INC.
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  11. No one hurt

    Made Jun 16, 2011, published by CPSC Sep 29, 2011

    The product, in the report: Vick’s Filter Free Humidifier. Machine sits on a white tray that holds water. Machine comes in two parts...one with motor and vent, other holds water. Vicks vapopads may be bought separately. This product is made in China and distributes by Katz and can be purchased in most stores including grocery

    I purchased Vicks Filter Free humidifier in January 2011. This product was used nightly in my bedroom until May 2011. The bottom tray and vent on the top of the machine were both cleaned with [REDACTED]. However, I noticed the vent was showing a black residue each morning. My husband and I removed the lid of the casing that held the motor and found the motor area and bottom of the lid to be completely black with thick black mold. I have asthma and realized the air that formed the mist was passing through this black mold. I immediately stopped using this machine.

    Model
    V4450
    Bought from
    Walmart, Georgia
    Bought
    Jan 1, 2011, about then
    Where
    Suwanee, Georgia: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Unspecified
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Vick’s Filter Free Humidifier, made or sold by KAZ 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.

Source:

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.

Source:

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Back to Humidifiers

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The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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