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PowerBoss generators

1 report to CPSC, the latest made Feb 10, 2019. 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.

  • 1report to CPSC
  • Feb 10, 2019the latest report was made
  • Feb 10, 2019the earliest
  • 0with the company’s comments
Brand
PowerBoss
Maker
Briggs & Stratton CorporationMakers, 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

1 report from March 2018 to February 2019; the most in February 2019, 1.
The numbers, as a table
Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
MonthReports
February 20191

How badly anyone was hurt

  • No one hurt 1 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 Feb 10, 2019, sent to the company Mar 12, 2019, published by CPSC Mar 26, 2019

    The product, in the report: PowerBoss 1700 Portable Generator Briggs & Stratton Model 030542

    I purchased a PowerBoss 1700 portable generator (Model 030542) at Lowe’s and the instructions refer to levers that are not labeled. I have not been able to start the generator

    1. Why were they allowed to sell a generator without labeling the Choke and Fuel Shutoff levers that their instructions refer to? This is my main complaints.

    2. Their instructions are unclear - which makes it unsafe - on how to set the levers. They use the same diagram when referring to starting it up and shutting it off - both can’t be correct. You can view their manuals online at www.powerboss-equipment.com/na/en_us/product-catalog/portable-generator/1700w-portable-generator.html

    3. The Model # is not printed on the box or any of the manuals! Why is this allowed? I found the model # when I searched the Internet on PowerBoss 1700 and then opened their site.

    4. No humans available on their support line (800) 743-4115. They have an automated FAQ which is completely worthless. Try asking it how to start the PowerBoss 1700 generator. No online videos posted by the Company either.

    I don’t understand how a company as large and old as Briggs & Stratton is allowed to get away with such sloppy and poor work (documentation).

    After hours of research (Internet) and examining the generator, I did find a very small decal that had drawings of the levers - presumably to start it. This decal is very hard to read due to its small size and location (on the side, not the top). No mention of this is made in their manuals either. An decals fall off, so it’s not a good design.

    Model
    PowerBoss 1700 Model 030542
    Where
    Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 62, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand PowerBoss, made or sold by Briggs & Stratton 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.

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 Generators

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

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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Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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