Klein Tools electrical testing equipment
14 reports to CPSC, the latest made Mar 9, 2024. 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.
- 14reports to CPSC
- Mar 9, 2024the latest report was made
- Apr 1, 2021the earliest
- 0with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Klein Tools
- Maker
- KLEIN TOOLS INCMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Electrical testing equipmentCPSC’s product type: Electrical Testing Equipment (code 815), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Tools & Hardware
Other ways the reports write the brand (2)
“Klein” and “klein”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| March 2024 | 1 |
| May 2022 | 1 |
| July 2021 | 1 |
| June 2021 | 10 |
| April 2021 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- First aid 3 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- Hurt, care not known 3 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known
- No one hurt 6 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- No incident, no one hurt 1 CPSC: No 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 incident, no one hurt Made Mar 9, 2024, sent to the company Mar 13, 2024, published by CPSC Mar 27, 2024
The product, in the report: The product is a Klein brand model CL390 “AC/DC Digital Clamp Meter.” Gray and orange color product. Approx 8”x3” dimensions.
My Klein model CL390 multimeter failed in a manner similar to other models that are subject to CPSC recall. Refer to:
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2016/Digital-Clamp-Meters-Recalled-by-Klein-Tools
My Klein’s AC Voltage meter reads steady 000.0 Volts when exposed to 120 Volts. This is dangerous because the meter indicates a safe situation when it is actually potentially deadly.
No injuries occurred when I used the CL390 because I used a 2nd meter to check the AC Volts. The second meter indicated 120 V when the Klein showed 0. Note that meters typically indicate incorrect measurement conditions by showing a fluctuating display. The Klein shows a steady 0, which potentially gives false-confidence.
I contacted Klein customer support, and they had a tech expert call me back. The tech confirmed my troubleshooting was correct and said there was nothing else that I could do. The warranty has apparently expired, so Klein just gave me information about other products that I could purchase.
- Model
- CL390
- Serial number
- 0520U-A1
- Where
- Poulsbo, United States: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 61, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein Tools, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 3, 2022, sent to the company May 6, 2022, published by CPSC May 20, 2022
The product, in the report: Klein NCVT-1P Yellow/black pen-style non contact voltage tester approx 5-1/2” long.
Klein NCVT-1P power button does not operate properly. Does not indicate live circuit reliably. Tester owned and used by municipal electrical inspector. No injuries, but I know not to trust the tool.
- Model
- NCVT-1P
- Serial number
- 0621C-H8
- Bought from
- Home Depot Hadley
- Bought
- Jun 16, 2021, about then
- Where
- Amherst, Massachusetts: Other Public Property/
Office - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein Tools, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Jul 13, 2021, sent to the company Jul 15, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 29, 2021
The product, in the report: It’s a multi purpose Klein brand voltage tester with both audible n visual signals, 6” in length 1/2” semi squared white clip yellow body red button…. Model MPZ00052R
The Klein product in question did not do its job. As such on a live 110-120Volt line it showed or sounded any live current. After three attempts kill the proper breaker( it still malfunctioned) now this was for me not a life threatening situation as I had the peoprer PPE on but still with no visual audio or other means of detections I did suffer a small mlli second shock. But the point is Klein has a much better reputation than this an should not be putting to market items that aren’t fully capable of detecting any voltage let alone what this one is rated to. Had it of been something on this items upper limits certain death on my part.
- Model
- MPZ00052R
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Where
- Wintersville, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 38, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No one hurt Made Jun 30, 2021, sent to the company Jul 12, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 26, 2021
The product, in the report: No Contact Voltage Tester
The on/off button does not function properly, comes on by itself and goes off during use. Constantly need to check to verify status, will go off during use, while it does have an auto off function, is not it does not work in a predictable pattern. it is a NCVT-1 date code 07158-G6 this has been an ongoing issue but is becoming more unpredictable
- Model
- NCVT-1
- Bought from
- Home Depot, California
- Bought
- Jul 20, 2020, about then
- Where
- Bonsall, California: Industrial
- Who was involved
- Age 65, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein Tools, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Jun 28, 2021, sent to the company Jul 1, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 16, 2021
The product, in the report: Klein Tools Voltage Tester A yellow pen like style Klein Tools non contact voltage tester with black battery cap with clip on rear, a smoked tip on front end with Led indicator light inside to visually indicate live voltage between 50-1000V of ACs Model NCVT-1
I have a young son who turns 4 in July, my home was built in 1984 and due to our current and future needs I’ve determined that a electrical sub panel needs to be installed to lighten the load of a few 15 and 20 amp circuits that are close to/at risk of being overloaded if any new devices are added to them. When it comes to my sons young age and the increasing age of my home, 35+ years, advancements in device safety and the laundry list of recommended updates of the past 13 editions of the National Electric Code since my home was built. Due to my extreme desire to keep my entire family safe, my 3 year old son from doing something really stupid like shoving a metal object into an outlet... Much like his dear ol’ dad did around his age, I’m now 32 and remember it vividly but it has led to a lifelong interest in all things electric and I make my living as a day trader and the stock market my degree is in electrical engineering which is great but it was stupid and I don’t recommend it and to keep my home not on fire I have a pretty long list updates to get done from install the sub panel to updating the receptacles’ to tamper resistant ones as well as adding ones with USB charging and or GFCI/AFCI etc, updated breakers and adding circuits and receptacles’ where needed. The main purpose is for my family and I to be safe and if I couldn’t do any of these updates safely or to a high enough level where I can guarantee it was done correctly and poses no risk from poor installation or use of the wrong tool etc I would more than happily have a professional handle it and step one of just about any electrical job is shutting off the power to either the whole home or to the circuit being worked on. Just to be safe I always use my KLEIN TOOLS Circuit Breaker finder tool in the outlet, light fixture or switch being worked on so the correct breaker is turned off, I then would power on one of the 2 now recalled non contact voltage tester, test it on an outlet or fixture that noticeably working then check the device I was going to start working on. I felt that it wasn’t really working properly and one day at Home Depot to purchase a KLEIN TOOLS fiberglass fish tape which is kept locked up I had to have an employee in the electrical dept. unlock it for me I asked a few questions about the non contact voltage tester mainly have you had any issues or complaints with it and was told “you turn it on, put it up to your thing and it’ll beep or flash or something like that” but said in a manner as if I were an idiot and I am many things but not as dumb as I look. I then asked if it works with DC current knowing that it does not and was promptly told “yeah up to 1000 volts”. That confirmed he was not going to be and couldn’t be any help I purchased another identical tester which seemed to work fine for several week until replacing an outlet in the garage added by the original owner which happened to be split and serviced by 2 different circuits, no knowing this at the time I turned off only the breaker servicing half of the duplex receptacle, checking on a working fixture and immediately to the one I was replacing, placing the tester at the hot wires, neutral wires then repeating multiple times which I commonly do. I then turned the device to loosen the screws and removed 1 hot wire moving to the next when I brushed against the first wire I had removed but was still live on a separate 120 volt 20 amp circuit and gave myself a pretty good jolt, good enough to cause the lights briefly dim according to my wife and prompting her to come into the garage from the next room where she was doing laundry. She later told me that I looked a bit dazed which I don’t doubt, I’ve been zapped a few times in my life, not in many years but that one is certainly rather memorable. A days to a week later I was replacing an outlet in our laundry room with a GFCI which is now required the 2008 revision of the N.E.C. I believe, did thing as I normally would testing all wires within the junction box, none appeared to be live or another circuit which was not the case as wire from another circuit other than the one I was working on which I had turn the breaker feeding it off testing before and after but it was live as you or I and gave myself another pretty good jolt. I have been beating myself up about zapping myself a few times because I’m not recklessly just jumping into boxes or doing thing incorrectly or that I’m not capable of doing at a high/professional level because it all about my family and them being safe above all else especially with 2 different testers. 1 okay things happen but 2 the problem most likely is user error usually. I buy KLEIN TOOLS for a reason, yeah I can get tools much much cheaper, they sell entire sets for the cost of my Klein 1000v insulated wire strippers which aren’t even the top of the line model I don’t think but there is a reason for the higher cost and the same reason KLEIN has been making tools, making great tools since 1857 or something like that which is why I’ve been really hard on myself for these preventable few zaps recently but since the second I’ve not used that tester and have been using one made by [REDACTED] that actually built into a clamp multimeter oddly enough but has since worked fine. Sadly I’m actually glad that I haven’t been as absent minded as I have been thinking over these past few month’s but equally as glad to see the KLEIN TOOLS issued this recall on their own with such few reports of them being a bit wonky but clearly I know for a fact, 2 facts actually that they were right to do it and will still happily be paying way more for my various KLEIN TOOLS. But [REDACTED] OUCH!!! And hopefully this recall stops any additional weekend warriors, DIYers and or electrical engineering degree holding stock brokers from a good zap and the visual disapproval from their Mrs... I don’t recommend either
- Model
- NCVT-1
- UPC
- N/
A - Serial number
- N/
A - Bought from
- HOME DEPOT
- Bought
- Jan 15, 2021, about then
- Where
- Upland, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 32, Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand KLEIN TOOLS, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
Hurt, care not known Made Jun 28, 2021, sent to the company Jul 1, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 16, 2021
The product, in the report: nvt-1 date code h7
suffered a electric shock
- Model
- nvt-1
- Bought from
- home depot
- Bought
- Sep 9, 2020
- Where
- SCHAUMBURG, Illinois: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 51, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand klein, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
-
First aid Made Jun 22, 2021, sent to the company Jun 25, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 12, 2021
The product, in the report: No contact voltage tester
No contact voltage tester did not detect any power, and caused me to be electrocuted, and havebto repaint a ceiling due to soot.
- Model
- Ncvt-1
- Bought from
- Home depot
- Bought
- Jun 1, 2021, about then
- Where
- Chesterfield, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 37, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Friend /
Neighbor / Co-worker - As this report names them
- Brand Klein, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No one hurt Made Jun 22, 2021, sent to the company Jun 25, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 12, 2021
The product, in the report: Klein tools voltage tester
The voltage tester would not turn off and sometimes would turn off by itself or not at all.
- Model
- NCVT -2
- UPC
- Unknown
- Serial number
- Unknown
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Apr 21, 2021, about then
- Where
- San Diego, California: Industrial
- Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein Tools, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jun 21, 2021, sent to the company Jun 24, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 16, 2021
The product, in the report: NON-CONTACT VOLTAGE TESTER
got shocked by live voltage
- Bought from
- the Home Depot
- Bought
- Apr 6, 2021
- Where
- Centerville, Virginia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 36, Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein Tools, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, care not known Made Jun 21, 2021, sent to the company Jul 8, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 22, 2021
The product, in the report: Klein Non contact voltage tester Model NCVT1
I used a klein non contact probe tester. I tested a circuit that the tester said was not live. I worked on a 240 volt circuit live,. I was shocked. This has now happened twice. The first time I chaulked it up to the single tester being bad. I bought another on and it happened again in may. I am an electrician. I need to depend on my test equipment to stay alive, I am very upset that Klein is selling this product
- Model
- NCVT1
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Where
- RUTLAND, Massachusetts: Other
- Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Jun 21, 2021, sent to the company Jun 30, 2021, published by CPSC Jul 15, 2021
The product, in the report: Klein Electrical tester. Klein NCVT 50-1000v tester.
I used my tester on 10 gauge wire. I was running a new circuit from the panel out to an AC disconnect. I tested it to make sure no one turned the breaker back on and that no electricity was going through the wire. The electrical tester showed it was not on and no power. I had already stripped the romex and the insulation prior to this. But I grabbed it and when I grabbed it, it shocked me bad. My fingers and hand were black and numb for over a week.
- Model
- Klein tester
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Nov 1, 2020
- Where
- Clearfield, Utah: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 32, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Jun 11, 2021, sent to the company Jun 15, 2021, published by CPSC Jun 30, 2021
The product, in the report: Klein Tools Non-Contact Voltage Tester Model NCVT-1 Date code 0220C - H7
I was alerted about a recall on my Klein Tools Non-Contact Voltage Tester Model NCVT-1, date code H-7. I was using this product one day and the outlet I was testing was live but the tester showed it as having no voltage. It would sporadically work correctly.
- Model
- NCVT - 1
- Bought from
- Amazon
- Bought
- Jul 24, 2020
- Where
- Sugar Land, Texas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein Tools, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, care not known Made Jun 11, 2021, sent to the company Jun 15, 2021, published by CPSC Jun 30, 2021
The product, in the report: received email through Amazon stating the item i purchased was defected. Checked the recall numbers and they match. My maintenance man stated he thinks one time he was shocked.
I was sent an email through Amazon stating the defect. I checked with my maintenance manager if the numbers of the recall matched up. It does. He thinks one instance he did get shocked
- Model
- 1020C-H7
- Bought from
- Amazon
- Bought
- Apr 1, 2021, about then
- Where
- Davenport, Florida: Other
- Who was involved
- Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- No Relationship
- As this report names them
- Brand KLEIN TOOLS, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
-
No one hurt Made Apr 1, 2021, sent to the company Apr 14, 2021, published by CPSC Apr 28, 2021
The product, in the report: Klein CL600
Voltage test. 480 VAC meter made a popping noise and had dark soot on LCD screen.
- Model
- CL600
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Oct 1, 2020, about then
- Where
- Waimea, Hawaii: School
- Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Klein, made or sold by KLEIN TOOLS 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
-
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.