Guardian generators
4 reports to CPSC, the latest made Oct 9, 2012. 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.
- 4reports to CPSC
- Oct 9, 2012the latest report was made
- Sep 28, 2011the earliest
- 3with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Guardian
- Maker
- GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- GeneratorsIncluding power plantsCPSC’s product type: Generators or Power Plants (code 606), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Electrical Systems
Other ways the reports write the brand (1)
“Guardian Plus”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| October 2012 | 1 |
| August 2012 | 1 |
| December 2011 | 1 |
| September 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Seen by a doctor or nurse 1 CPSC: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
- No one hurt 3 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.
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Seen by a doctor or nurse Made Oct 9, 2012, sent to the company Oct 17, 2012, published by CPSC Oct 31, 2012
The product, in the report: 12 kW LP Air-cooled pdrepackaged automatic standby generator
The electrical transfer switch on an emergency generator burned up. During operation one of the electrical coils which switches the power from the utility source to the generator suddenly burned up and catches fire. The fire occurred when the service power was restored from the utility service. I was observing the switch when the power came on. The switch did not swing to the utility power position and the coil melted then burst in fames. I manually turned off the generator and the main breaker from the utility. I put out the fire which caused minor burns to my hands. I then manually switched the transfer switch to the utility position. I then turned on the utility service and power was restored to the building. I left the generator off until I replaced the transfer switch (C2237). The system is now operating normally. In a call to the manufacturer, Generac in wisconsin, the company representative said they have not had similar reports of such failures even after I informed her of the previous report #20110816-A1C9E-2147476195 that I found on this web site. She continued to state that no reports of this kind were made. I informed her that I would like to file a report and she said that she would send one to a post office box. I have little confidence in Generac’s reporting system
Warranty is only 3 years. I bought a new one, but this switch should be recalled and redesigned.
- Model
- Item # 0043903
- Serial number
- 4202909
- Bought from
- Northern Tools and Equipment
- Bought
- Jul 26, 2005
- Where
- SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 59, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Guardian Plus, made or sold by GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
-
No one hurt Made Aug 2, 2012, sent to the company Aug 16, 2012, published by CPSC Aug 30, 2012
The product, in the report: Guardian 7kW Home Standby Generator by Generac
I have had a Guardian 7kW Standby Generator by Generac generator for about 4 1/2 years. Last night (7-31-2012) when the generator was starting, the battery exploded. I have since read numerous accounts on the Internet that this has been a common occurrence.
- Model
- Model 0052400
- Serial number
- 4789466
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Indiana
- Bought
- Apr 16, 2007
- Where
- Nashville, Indiana: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Guardian, made or sold by GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Dec 21, 2011, sent to the company Dec 30, 2011, published by CPSC Jan 17, 2012
The product, in the report: Model 5244 whole house standby generator.
My battery exploded in my Guardian 5244 standby generator.
- Model
- 0052440
- Serial number
- 4832094
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Michigan
- Bought
- Dec 4, 2007
- Where
- Canton, Michigan: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Guardian, made or sold by GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Sep 28, 2011, sent to the company Oct 6, 2011, published by CPSC Oct 21, 2011
The product, in the report: Automatic Standby Generator
Friday afternoon, 9/23/11, around the time that our Generac Model 5243 emergency generator starts its weekly exercise cycle, I heard a very loud boom, like a cannon going off.
I went outside to see what happened but couldn’t locate the source of the sound. There was, however, a slight smell of sulphur or gunpowder in the air.
A while later, I noticed that the generator hadn’t started. I went out to try a manual start but no joy. I assumed it must need a service call.
Sunday, for whatever reason, I decided to take a closer look at the generator enclosure. Upon removing the front cover panel, this is what I saw in the battery compartment.
The battery was completely disintegrated. There were bits of plastic and pieces of filler caps all over.
The top strap was basically just holding the side plates together. If you tried to lift, more pieces would fall off.
I’ve never seen a battery do this before. I’m glad it didn’t happen when someone could have got hurt.
There are many online complaints about battery explosions with this product. The manufacturer does not seem to be responsive to providing a fix.
- Model
- Model 543
- Serial number
- 4701467
- Bought from
- Washington Energy
- Bought
- Jan 19, 2007
- Where
- Mercer Island, Washington: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 61, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Guardian, made or sold by GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, 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
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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.