There are two reasons electrical panels get recalled: they’re outdated, or they malfunction. Both can pose massive safety risks, so we’ve made an electrical panel recall list to make it easier for you to check whether yours is safe.
Recalled Panels
Challenger
Manufactured: 1980s – 2005
While Challenger panels are mostly safe, there have been two instances where a recall was necessary.
The first was in 1988, after it was discovered that a removable mechanical component in panels with 15-amp and 20-amp circuit breakers manufactured between February and April of that same year was causing overheating issues.
The second was in 2014, a little while after Eaton/Cutler-Hammer purchased the company. They had to recall 1,000 panels because components they’d designed to be easily accessible were shock risks.
Keep an eye out for:
- A Challenger stamp – it will either be on the handle, the door, or on the manufacturer’s label, typically found on the inside of the panel door.
- Circuits with yellow buttons and the word “test” on one side.
Certain Schneider Electric/Square D Panels
Defective Panels Manufactured: 2020 – 2022
While most of these panels are relatively safe, consumers discovered defects in specific panels between 2020 and 2022. Many of these units were fire hazards because they had loose neutral screw connections that could overheat, so they were eventually recalled.
These panels have a:
- Square D label
- Date code that falls between 194871 and 221343
If your electrical panel matches that description, call your electrician.
Hazardous Panels That Should be Recalled
Federal Pacific Panels
Manufactured: 1971 – 1980
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels with Stab-Lok breakers are so notorious for being fire risks that most insurance providers will not cover your home if you have one. The company actually cheated while being tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) by using a mechanical switch to turn their breakers off. When they were found out, FPE was sued, and UL revoked its endorsement.
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.
Zinsco/GTE-Sylvania
Manufactured: 1930s – mid-1970s
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 how you can tell if you have a Zinsco panel:
- Branding:
- Zinsco
- Sylvania
- GTE-Sylvania
- Sylvania-Zinsco
- Colored tabs on individual breakers (red, blue, green, and black).
Electrical Panel Recall and Hazard Overview
| Panel Brand / Type | Status | Main Risk | What to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenger | Recalled in specific cases | Overheating or shock risk | Challenger label, affected breakers, yellow test buttons |
| Schneider Electric / Square D | Recalled in specific cases | Loose connections, overheating, fire risk | Square D label and date code between 194871 and 221343 |
| Federal Pacific / Stab-Lok | Hazardous, not officially recalled | Breakers may fail to trip, major fire risk | FPE or Stab-Lok branding, red breaker stripes |
| Zinsco / GTE-Sylvania | Hazardous, not officially recalled | Corrosion, breaker failure, overheating | Zinsco or Sylvania branding, colored breaker tabs |
If your unit is on this electrical panel recall list and you’re concerned about it malfunctioning, contact Wires R Us, and we’ll get a team out to you for an inspection and help with an upgrade if necessary.
