“The settlement resolves CPSC’s charges that Generac failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law, that 32 models of its Generac and DR 6500 Watt and 8000 Watt portable generators contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard and created an unreasonable risk of serious injury to consumers,” the commission said in a news release.
The commission said that from October 2018 into 2020, Generac was receiving reports of consumers who had fingers that were “partially amputated or crushed by the unlocked handle of the portable generator. Despite possessing this information, Generac did not immediately report to the Commission.” When Generac did finally report the issue, the commission said five people had received finger amputations “while attempting to transport the portable generators, which required hospitalization, surgery, and/or sutures and resulted in permanent disfigurement.”