Man's hand plugging an extension cord into an emergency generator.
Over one million generators and similar machines are sold in the United States each year, and they are used for a wide variety of reasons in both businesses and for individuals in their homes. While many generators come with warnings and tips to ensure a user’s safety, generator – related injuries can occur from both user – related error or from the product malfunctioning.
Despite their wide use, generators tend to be dangerous to operate for a variety of reasons, and for people not skilled in working with these kinds of machines, serious harm can be inflicted when operating a generator.
In March 2020, American Honda Motor Company recalled approximately 340,000 generators sold around the country due to a mechanical issue that causes the generators to spark and even catch flame. Honda is looking to recall and replace all the affected models.
This is a major cause of generator – related injuries. Overheating is caused by long – term use without giving the machine time to rest. This can cause many generators to malfunction, and either not work properly, or cause severe injuries. Depending on the generator, it may not even be intended to be used for more than 6-8 hours, and this can be another cause of a generator overheating or catching flame.
Depending on the size, some generators can power entire homes and buildings, which means they need to have the ability to generate a lot of power. Some generator – related issues come up when users of generators try to pull more power for various devices plugged into the generator than the generator is able to withstand, causing the generator to work harder than its built for, and this can cause serious injuries and property damage.
The current set of recalled generators were sold between February 2018 and January 2020. Most commonly, these generators were sold at home improvement stores, and have been sold mainly at The Home Depot stores. If you own a Honda generator, its recommended that you contact American Honda Motor Company regardless to make sure your generator is not part of this or another recall. Many generators will have the manufacturer’s help or service phone number both on the generator itself and on a user guide.
What is Causing the Mechanical Issues?
The malfunction takes place when salt water enters the unit, causing the sparking, smoking, and even fire to occur. Most users note that they didn’t know that any water was entering the generators, so this may be unintentional or unknown to the user of the generator. Water may enter through the air and be unknown to the owner of the generators.
For those who use generators similar to the recalled Honda generators, it’s important to have someone maintenance it (as you would a car) in order to make sure it’s in proper working condition and that no minor issues become major issues.
Common Injuries Reported by Victims
The most common injuries victims have experienced are painful 2nd and 3rd degree burns. In addition to the pain caused by the burns, some victims find that the financial burden of nursing themselves back to health is taxing. Other injuries may include scrapes and bruises that may occur when people try to fix their broken generators on their own.
You may also experience property damage when using a malfunctioning generator, so it’s important to monitor your generator if you suspect it isn’t working properly or is overheating when it’s being used.
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Models Affected
The recall is aimed at the following Honda units: EB2200i, EU2200i Companion, and EU2200i Camp Portable. This is not the first time Honda has recalled generators for the same issue. The current generators are red in color, with the word “Honda” on the side, and with the above unit model number printed at the base near the control panel. If your Honda generator matches one of the above model units, Honda is currently accepting them for a replacement.
If you are not sure if your generator is part of this recall, we would advise that you reach out to American Honda Motor Company with questions and concerns.
Injured? We Can Help You
If you currently own one of the recalled generators, and suffered injuries or damage due to smoking, short-circuiting, or flames of your unit, call the experienced defective product lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. We are available to discuss your legal options with you 24/7. All consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we secure a settlement or verdict on your behalf.
Call or text 800-934-6555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form