Hearth Record

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Vanguard (Harbor Freight) extension cords

1 report to CPSC, the latest made Dec 8, 2017. 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
  • Dec 8, 2017the latest report was made
  • Dec 8, 2017the earliest
  • 0with the company’s comments
Brand
Vanguard (Harbor Freight)
Maker
Harbor Freight ToolsMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product
Extension cordsCPSC’s product type: Extension Cords (code 685), in Electronics: Cables, Surge & Power Protection

By month

1 report from January 2017 to December 2017; the most in December 2017, 1.
The numbers, as a table
Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
MonthReports
December 20171

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 Dec 8, 2017, sent to the company Mar 26, 2018, published by CPSC Apr 9, 2018

    The product, in the report: 10 foot extension cord. Black and orange.

    A ten-foot extension cord purchased about a year ago started melting at its receiving end.

    The cord was purchased from Harbor Freight in San Antonio, TX. It has black plastic connectors with an orange cord and carries a ground wire.

    The cord was in regular use until last night. I noticed the smell of burning plastic after turning on an electric heater that was plugged in to it. I used the same heater and cord last winter.

    Assuming the smell was from the heater and it was operating normally, I ignored the smell at first. After about an hour, I got a headache and turned the heater off in response. The odor dissipated.

    I turned it back on about 45 minutes later and noticed the smell again. I discovered the smell was the strongest near my bed’s headboard, so I pulled the bed frame and mattresses away from the headboard. The extension cord was directly under where my head lays as I sleep under the box spring.

    I saw the cord and its black plastic connector was melting on to the end of the other cord. It was very hot to the touch as I pulled them apart. One of the prongs of the cord plugged into the end of the cord had melted black plastic on it as a result of pulling the two cords apart.

    I measured the temperature within five minutes with an IR thermometer which read 150 degrees F. I had to scrape the melted black plastic off the prong of the other cord as it was completely covered by melted plastic, preventing it from carrying electricity.

    I photographed the cord and the thermometer reading.

    I continue to use the same heater without a problem. The cord is noticeably melted at its connector and the orange sheath is permanently bent just below where it connects to the black connector.

    Model
    62935, 62936
    Bought from
    Harbor Freight
    Bought
    Dec 1, 2016, about then
    Where
    SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 34, Male
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Vanguard (Harbor Freight), made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
    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 Extension cords

How to read a record

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

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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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