Kohler generators
4 reports to CPSC, the latest made Feb 12, 2026. 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
- Feb 12, 2026the latest report was made
- Jul 12, 2015the earliest
- 3with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Kohler
- Makers
- KOHLER CO. and Discovery Energy, LLCMakers, 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
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | 1 |
| July 2021 | 1 |
| September 2020 | 1 |
| July 2015 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- No one hurt 4 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 Feb 12, 2026, sent to the company Feb 25, 2026, published by CPSC Mar 11, 2026
The product, in the report: Kohler 20RCA Whole House Generator- S/N 339MGHJM1389 47”(L) X 26.2”(W) X 32.2” (H) Tan color
I believe that there is a design flaw in the way the oil fill port cover cap(s) on my Kohler whole house generator is intended to prevent oil discharge/leaks while the propane engine on the generator is running. The rubber cap (grommet) that covers the oil fill port(s) on my Kohler 20RCA Generator- S/N 339MGHJM1389 has disengaged (popped) multiple times while the engine is running, allowing oil to discharge on the hot engine. I consider this a fire hazard. I am not always home when my generator becomes active due to a weekly run cycle or power outage. This event has occurred multiple times in both hot and cold weather, and the most recent time that an oil fill port cap plug has popped out was on January 27, 2026. I have replaced the rubber oil fill cap on my generator with a new cap and the problem persists. I reported this a few weeks ago to [REDACTED] but I have not received a response identifying a fix for this problem. Although there have been no injuries to date, I consider this a significant fire hazard and this Kohler generator is located within about 6 feet from my house. A product that allows oil to splash over a hot, running engine is dangerous.
- Model
- Kohler 20RCA Whole House Generator- S/
N 339MGHJM13 - Serial number
- 339MGHJM13
- Bought from
- Purchased from ASE ELECTRIC - Barkhamsted CT
- Bought
- Apr 19, 2022, about then
- Where
- Barkhamsted, Connecticut: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kohler, made or sold by Discovery Energy, LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jul 10, 2021, sent to the company Jul 14, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 28, 2021
The product, in the report: Defective Automatic Transfer Switch for 8.5RMY generator
Very loud noises, smoke, fire and sparks from Kohler Model 8.5 RMY generator and G120 Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) 200 Amp. No direct injuries but smoke inhalation and risk of house fire.
- Model
- G120-124231-200. 240 watts
- UPC
- Unknown
- Serial number
- K91498
- Bought from
- La Plata Electric Co
- Bought
- Apr 15, 1999
- Where
- Durango, Colorado: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 75, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Kohler, made or sold by KOHLER CO.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Sep 16, 2020, sent to the company Dec 8, 2020, published by CPSC Dec 22, 2020
The product, in the report: Kohler 12 KW whole house back up generator model 12RESVL. This unit was supplied with an Automatic Transfer Switch and flexible propane line. The flex line is there to prevent engine vibration from cracking the rigid piping that carries the fuel
About a year ago, I had a whole house propane fueled back up generator installed. While checking the unit earlier this year, I noticed some damage to the flexible line for the propane connection. Discussions with the manufacturer and installer suggested that this was caused by an animal (more than likely a squirrel). flex line is there to prevent engine vibration from cracking the rigid piping that carries the fuel
- Model
- 12RESVL
- Serial number
- SVG325RSK
- Bought from
- EM Electrical
- Bought
- Apr 17, 2019
- Where
- Byram Twp, New Jersey: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kohler, made or sold by KOHLER CO.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jul 12, 2015, sent to the company Jul 20, 2015, published by CPSC Aug 3, 2015
The product, in the report: 38 KW whole-house, natural gas-powered, backup generator
The battery in my natural gas-powered backup generator exploded. The service technician said that this has been happening to a number of other Kohler generators, both this model and other models. The problem is that the controller module applies too large of a charging voltage to the battery causing it to overcharge and eventually explode when it tries to start the engine. According to the service technician, Kohler is aware of this problem because they have made a new wiring harness with a built-in diode that limits the charging voltage to 13.5 volts. This is supposed to compensate for the defectively designed controller module.
This battery explosion within the generator cabinet could damage the natural gas lines feeding the generator and could result in a much larger explosion and fire, resulting in major property damage and loss of life.
Kohler should not be treating this as a routine problem. Kohler should be providing the new parts to its dealers ASAP and the dealers should be instructed to install them in every affected unit, also ASAP.
- Model
- 38RCL
- Serial number
- SGM323NRS
- Bought from
- Elite Power Systems, Virginia
- Bought
- Mar 7, 2013
- Where
- Bethesda, Maryland: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Kohler, made or sold by KOHLER CO.
- 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.