A class action lawsuit claims that Generac sold standby generators with a latent defect that causes them to fail during power outages, even though they were marketed as reliable backup power.

Plaintiffs James W. Dawson Jr. and Edmond C. Hill Jr. filed the lawsuit Oct. 18 in Florida federal court, accusing Generac of violating consumer protection laws. The combination concerns 22 kW and 24 kW models sold from 2021 to 2024.

The problem is believed to be slip rings and carbon brushes, which wear out quickly and prevent generators from operating in the event of a breakdown. This can be dangerous for those who rely on electricity for their medical equipment.

The plaintiffs claim Generac was aware of the defect but only offered temporary fixes instead of a permanent solution and failed to recall the products.

Dawson, who purchased a 24 kW model in March 2022, said his generator failed after running for just 30 minutes during Hurricane Ian, leaving him without power for almost a week. He and others reported repeated repair attempts without a lasting solution.

The plaintiffs aim to represent all U.S. purchasers of these defective generators and are seeking damages and a jury trial. This lawsuit follows an earlier case against Generac involving faulty generators that posed fire hazards.