Outdated and malfunctioning electrical panels are major safety risks. They are mostly found in older homes and can keep you from getting homeowners insurance. If a panel has proven it’s particularly problematic, it’ll get recalled. We’ve compiled an electrical panel recall list, so you know what to look for if you’re concerned that your panel falls into that category.
Electrical Panel Recall List:
1. Federal Pacific Panels
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels were popular between the 1950s and 1990s, but what people didn’t realize is that the company was knowingly putting their customers in danger.
When FPE Stab-Lok breakers were being manufactured (1971 – 1980), the company cheated during the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certification process by using a mechanical switch to turn their breakers off. This led to a class-action lawsuit in New Jersey a few years later.
FPE never actually recalled the panels, but most electricians will tell you to replace them if they find them in your home. Here’s what you need to look out for to determine if you have a FPE panel with Stab-Lok breakers:
- A Federal Pacific Electric or FPE stamp on the metal cover.
- An internal sticker that reads “Federal Pacific Electric”, “Federal Pioneer FPE”, or “Stab-Lok”.
- Breakers with a red stripe on each switch.
2. Zinsco/GTE-Sylvania
Zinsco panels are most common in homes that were built in the Western part of the US in the 1970s, and they have a lot of issues:
- Bus bars – the component that distributes power:
- Corrode easily,
- Often have insecure connections with their breakers.
- Breakers:
- Melt into the bus bar when the panel overheats,
- Keep conducting electricity even if they are technically off.
- Their components are made with aluminum and need to be replaced every 30 years.
Here’s what you need to check for when determining if you have a Zinsco panel:
- Branding:
- Zinsco
- Sylvania
- GTE-Sylvania
- Sylvania-Zinsco
- Colored tabs on individual breakers (red, blue, green, and black) – this is simply something to keep in mind when checking your panel.
3. Challenger
These panels have been recalled twice:
- 1988 – Panels made between February and April of that same year with 15-amp and 20-amp circuit breakers were recalled because they have a mechanical component that can detach, which leads to overheating, melting, and fire.
- 2014 – Eaton/Cutler-Hammer had to recall 1,000 panels because their easily accessible components were a shock risk.
Challenger parts are also used in electrical panels made by GTE and Zinsco. Here’s what you need to look for:
- Challenger’s name, which you will find stamped on the handle or door, or on the manufacturer’s label – usually found on the inside of the panel door.
- Circuits with yellow buttons and the word “test” on one side.
4. Pushmatic
These panels weren’t hazardous when they were first manufactured between 1950 and 1980, but they’re outdated now and should be replaced if you find one in your home.
Here’s what you need to look for:
- Rectangular buttons that activate and deactivate circuits, rather than right-to-left switches.
5. Wadsworth
Like the Pushmatic, Wadsworth panels weren’t hazardous or defective when they were first manufactured. However, after the company closed in 1990, the parts became obsolete and are now outdated because they no longer meet safety standards.
What you need to look for:
- Wadsworth label.
6. Certain Schneider Electric/Square D Panels
For the most part, Schneider Electric and Square D panels are safe, but between February 2020 and January 2022, they had to recall specific panels because they had loose neutral screw connections, which could overheat and catch fire.
What to look out for to be on the safe side:
- Square D label
- Date code that falls between 194871 and 221343
If you spot any of the units on this electrical panel recall list in your home, contact MAS Pro to inspect and help upgrade your panel.
