Recalled Electrical Panels: The Complete 2026 Recall List

If you live in an older home, there's a real chance your electrical panel is on a recall list, or should be. Outdated and defective panels are one of the leading causes of house fires, and many insurance companies will refuse to cover homes that still have them. We've put together the complete 2026 electrical panel recall list below, including what each brand looks like, why it's dangerous, and what to do if you find one in your home. If you're in Vancouver, WA or anywhere in Clark County, MAS Pro offers free panel inspections, call 360-907-3412.

Outdated and malfunctioning electrical panels are major safety risks.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:

1. 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.
2. 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

7. Cutler Hammer / Eaton Panels

While most Cutler Hammer (now owned by Eaton) panels are safe, certain BR-series and CH-series breakers have been part of recall actions over the years — including the 2014 recall of approximately 1,000 panels for shock-risk components mentioned in the Challenger section above. If your home has a Cutler Hammer or Eaton panel, it’s worth having an electrician verify the model number and date code against current recall notices.

What to look for:

• “Cutler Hammer” or “Eaton” branding on the panel cover or door
• Black breakers with the “CH” or “BR” series designation
• Date codes from the early-to-mid 2010s on affected models

If you’re unsure whether your specific panel is part of a recall, MAS Pro can verify the model and recall status during an inspection.

8. Siemens / Murray Panels

Siemens has issued multiple recalls on QP and QPF circuit breakers used in both Siemens and Murray-branded panels, citing failures where breakers may not trip during an overload — creating a fire hazard. Because Murray is a Siemens-owned brand, the same breakers appear in both panel lines.

What to look for:

• Siemens or Murray label on the panel
• QP, QPF, or QPF2 series breakers
• Date codes from approximately 2015 onward (verify with current Siemens recall notices)

If you have a Siemens or Murray panel, contact MAS Pro for a recall verification check.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my electrical panel is recalled?

Open your panel cover and look for the brand label — usually inside the door or stamped on the metal cover. Compare the brand, date code, and breaker style against the list above. If you’re not comfortable opening the panel, a licensed electrician can do this during a free inspection.

Is a Federal Pacific panel actually dangerous?

Yes. Independent testing has shown FPE Stab-Lok breakers fail to trip during overloads at significantly higher rates than modern breakers. While FPE never issued an official recall, the consensus among electricians and home inspectors is that these panels should be replaced.

Will my homeowners insurance cover a recalled panel?

Many insurance companies will either refuse to write a new policy or cancel an existing one if they discover a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or other known-defective panel during inspection. Replacing the panel often makes a home insurable again — and may lower your premium.

How much does it cost to replace a recalled panel in Vancouver, WA?

Panel replacement costs in Clark County typically range from $2,500 to $4,500 depending on amperage, panel location, and whether any service upgrades are needed. MAS Pro provides free, no-obligation quotes.

Can I just replace the breakers instead of the whole panel?

For brands like Federal Pacific and Zinsco, no — the bus bar and panel design itself is the problem, not just the breakers. For other brands with isolated breaker recalls (like certain Siemens models), swapping the affected breakers may be sufficient.

Serving Clark County and Vancouver, WA

MAS Pro provides licensed electrical inspections, panel replacements, and emergency electrical service throughout Vancouver, WA, Battle Ground, Camas, Washougal, Ridgefield, and the greater Clark County area. If you’ve identified any of the panels on this recall list in your home — or you’re not sure what you have — give us a call at 360-907-3412 for a free inspection.

Found one of these panels in your home? Don’t wait. Call MAS Pro at 360-907-3412 or schedule a free inspection online — we’ll verify the recall status and walk you through your replacement options with no pressure.

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.