Closed
Generac Fuel Plenum Settlement
The claim window closed on September 25, 2023. The settlement was finally approved in fall 2023, and refunds, inspections, and replacements followed.
Case record
- Case
- McMahon, et al. v. Generac Power Systems, Inc.
- Case no.
- 2:21-cv-05660
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Defendant
- Generac Power Systems, Inc.
- Administrator
- KCC Class Action Services
The case
What this settlement was about
This class action alleged that certain Generac air-cooled home standby generators manufactured between 2008 and 2016 were prone to corrosion of the fuel plenum, a defect that could lead to fuel leakage and fire. When Generac offered owners inspections through a voluntary Fuel Plenum Inspection Program, it charged a discounted $80 fee, refundable only if significant corrosion was found.
Plaintiffs Greg McMahon and Adam Goldberg claimed that charging any fee to inspect a known defect breached Generac's warranties and violated consumer-protection laws. Generac denied liability but agreed to settle.
There was no cash fund: the settlement's benefits were an $80 inspection fee refund for owners who had paid one, a free fuel plenum inspection by a Generac authorized service dealer, and, if corrosion was found, a free plenum replacement including parts and labor. Attorneys' fees of up to $1.5 million were paid by Generac separately, on top of class benefits.
The class
Who was covered
Current or former owners of covered Generac home standby generators (identified by serial number, in specific U.S. regions) who paid an unreimbursed inspection fee of up to $80 before preliminary approval, plus all current owners of covered generators that had not yet been inspected under the program.
- What class members could receiveA refund of the unreimbursed $80 inspection fee, a free fuel plenum inspection by an authorized Generac dealer, and a free fuel plenum replacement (parts and labor) if corrosion was found.
- Proof requirementClaims required supporting documentation.
- Claim deadlinePassed on Sep 25, 2023. New claims are no longer accepted.
Docket timeline
How the settlement unfolded
- 2008–2016Affected generators manufactured
Generac air-cooled home standby generators prone to fuel plenum corrosion.
- December 2021Class action filed
Owners sued Generac in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania over the $80 inspection fee.
- April 18, 2023Fee refund cutoff
Inspection fees paid before this date qualified for reimbursement.
- September 25, 2023Claim deadline
The last day to submit a claim for refunds or free inspections.
- Fall 2023Final approval
The final approval hearing was held September 27, 2023, and the approval order was posted by late 2023.
- Late 2023 – 2024Benefits provided
Refunds, inspections, and replacements were scheduled after the settlement's effective date.
Questions people still ask
Frequently asked questions
Can I still file a Generac fuel plenum claim?
No. The deadline to file was September 25, 2023, and the settlement was finally approved in fall 2023. The claims process is closed.
What did the Generac settlement provide?
Three benefits: a refund of the $80 inspection fee for owners who had paid one, a free fuel plenum inspection by an authorized Generac dealer, and a free plenum replacement, parts and labor, if corrosion was found.
What was wrong with the generators?
The lawsuit alleged that certain 2008–2016 Generac air-cooled home standby generators were prone to fuel plenum corrosion, which could lead to fuel leakage and fire. Generac denied the generators were defective.
Did the settlement cover injuries or property damage?
No. The settlement expressly excluded, and did not release, claims for death, personal injury, or property damage beyond damage to the generator itself. Those claims remained available to owners.
Is fuelplenumsettlement.com still the official settlement site?
No. The site remained online through mid-2025 before it was retired and the domain lapsed. This page preserves the settlement's record; the administrator was KCC Class Action Services.
Sources for this record
Official site fuelplenumsettlement.com has been retired. Record preserved by TapClaim.
