What the CPSC and Goal Zero just announced
On August 20, 2026, the CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) and Goal Zero jointly announced a voluntary recall of roughly 46,200 YETI 3000X power stations, 120V version, SKU 36400 (UPC 847974007563). Affected units were sold between May 2020 and August 2025, mainly through Costco.com, REI, Backcountry.com, goalzero.com and other retailers.
The issue is serious: the station's internal circuit board can overheat, creating a fire and burn hazard. Four reports of overheating with smoking have been logged so far, with no injuries reported. The official guidance is clear: stop using the unit immediately until the fix has been installed.
How to check if your station is affected
Only the 120V YETI 3000X is covered by this recall: other models in the YETI line (1000X, 1500X, 6000X, and so on) are not affected. The model name is printed in three places, easiest to check in this order:
- on the front bar of the cart, if your station is fitted with its wheeled cart;
- on the front underside of the power station's housing;
- on the nameplate under the lid, which also carries the full serial number.
If you find SKU 36400 or UPC 847974007563 on any of these labels, your unit is part of the recall and needs the update below before further use.
Installing the fix: firmware update 1.9.5
Good news: this isn't a hardware recall, it's a free firmware update (version 1.9.5) that installs in a few minutes through the Goal Zero mobile app.
- Download the free Goal Zero app (App Store or Google Play) if you haven't already.
- Connect your station to Wi-Fi, ideally 2.4 GHz (the more reliable band for this kind of connected device). A mobile hotspot from a second phone also works.
- Open the app, tap the update banner, or go to Settings > Firmware Update.
- Let the installation run: the station's display shows 'upd' during the process, don't unplug the unit while this is happening.
- The update is confirmed once the app shows version 1.9.5 and the station's display reads '195'.
Did you buy your YETI 3000X outside the US?
This recall was issued by the CPSC, the US regulator, and formally targets units sold in the United States through the retailers listed above. We haven't found any separate announcement of an equivalent recall for other markets so far.
The 120V version covered by this recall generally isn't the one distributed outside North America, where mains voltage differs, so most units sold internationally likely aren't affected by this specific SKU. That said, if you own a US-bought YETI 3000X that travelled with you, or if you're unsure which version you have, checking costs nothing: open the Goal Zero app to see if an update is offered, and contact Goal Zero support through its online form if you're not sure about your exact model.
Why a power station's circuit board can overheat
A power station is more than a big battery: it's a set of cells managed by a BMS (Battery Management System), itself connected to a power circuit board that handles charging, discharging and the various outputs (USB, AC, 12V, and so on). This board can overheat abnormally for several reasons: a component that ages poorly, insufficient design margin against repeated charge spikes, or a manufacturing defect present from the start on a given production batch, which appears to be the case here.
This is exactly why serious manufacturers push firmware updates: they can adjust safety thresholds, cap output power under certain conditions, or trigger a warning before an incident occurs. To understand what physically happens when a lithium cell goes into thermal runaway, our feature on lithium battery thermal runaway covers the mechanism in detail.
In the meantime, and whatever brand you own
This recall covers one specific model from one specific manufacturer, but the precautions it highlights apply to any power station, regardless of brand:
- Install firmware updates as soon as they're offered: it's often the channel manufacturers use to fix a defect discovered after launch, without a hardware recall.
- Don't leave a station charging unattended overnight in a closed room or a parked vehicle, especially an older unit that's never been updated.
- Place the unit on a non-flammable surface, with clear space around it and unobstructed vents.
- Register your product with the manufacturer at purchase: it's the only reliable way to be notified directly of a future recall, rather than relying on the press.
If you're shopping for a reliable power station right now, whether to replace a recalled unit or simply get equipped, the models below cover a capacity range comparable to the YETI 3000X, from brands that regularly ship firmware updates.
