Lithium Ion Batteries

Mitsubishi Motors North America is recalling replacement lithium-ion batteries installed on certain 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles. The batteries were manufactured December 18, 2012, through December 21, 2012.

The batteries may have internal contamination possibly causing reduced voltage. Also, the batteries may also develop a short-circuit during charging. Internal contamination of the battery may cause reduced voltage resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Mitsubishi will notify the owners instructing them to take their vehicle to a dealer where the batteries will be replaced free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0307. Mitsubishi's recall number is SR-13-006.

A California teen suffered second-degree burns when her Kyocera Wireless 2325 cell phone caught fire, according to local fire investigators.

The 16-year-old Ontario girl's phone burst into "fist-size flames" without warning, said Frank Huddleston, an investigator at the Ontario fire department. Huddleston said he suspects the phone's battery overheated.

Witnesses said the victim had the phone in her back pocket, when it "let out a whoosh," bulged, then shot out flames and smoke. She was treated for second-degree burns and released.

Huddleston said there were no sources of flame nearby. He said witnesses saw flames coming from the bottom of the phone, near vents that are intended to prevent overheating batteries from exploding.

Kyocera issued a recall of about 140,000 batteries used in Kyocera Model 7135 Smartphones in January. The recall announcement said the batteries can short-circuit and erupt with force or emit excessive heat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

In January, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued its first-ever recall of cell phone batteries, some 40,000 from Coslight International Group in Hong Kong. The batteries were on four phones, all Kyocera Wireless models that overheated. One person was slightly injured from the defect. The batteries were also available from Verizon Wireless and Alltel.

There have been other incidents involving portable phones overheating and exploding, raising concerns about the safety of jamming the devices into pockets, purses and briefcases and holding them against the face.

Batteries are everywhere but, as Boeing's problems with its 787 Dreamliner show, they can be the source of serious safety issues. And the lithium-ion batteries that power our smartphones are no exception.

Lithium-ion batteries hold a lot of energy in a small package.  They offer numerous advantages over other types of batteries, including the capacity to hold their charge longer and the ability to be recharged numerous times.  Yet, lithium-ion batteries are more sensitive to physical stress than the alkaline batteries found in toys and flashlights and they need to be treated with more care.

With wireless devices now outnumbering humans in the United States, there are lots of these little powerhouses floating around out there, which has inspired the Consumer Product Safety Commission and CTIA, the trade association that represents the mobile phone industry, to issue some safety guidelines:

1) Do not use batteries and chargers that are incompatible with your mobile device.  Some websites and secondhand dealers sell incompatible, counterfeit, or poorly manufactured batteries and chargers.  Consumers should buy only manufacturer- or carrier-recommended products and accessories.  
2) Do not let a loose battery come in contact with metal objects, such as coins, keys, or jewelry.  Metal objects can cross the electrical connections and cause an incident.
3) Do not crush, puncture or put a high degree of pressure on the battery, as this can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating.
4) Do not place the phone or batteries in areas that may get very hot, such as on or near a cooking surface, cooking appliance, iron, or radiator.
5) Avoid dropping the mobile device.  Dropping it, especially on a hard surface, can potentially cause damage to the device and battery.  If you suspect damage to the device or battery, take it to a service center for inspection.
6) Do not let your mobile device or battery get wet.  Even though the device will dry out and may appear to operate normally, the battery contacts or circuitry could slowly corrode and pose a safety hazard.
7) Follow battery usage, storage, and charging guidelines found in the user's guide.

All this might sound a little alarmist, but there have been a number of incidents over the last decade or so that could easily have turned into major disasters.

For example, in 2011, an iPhone started to smoke aboard an Australian airliner. In 2004, a California teen suffered burns when her Kyocera cell phone caught fire, bursting into "fist-sized flames." 

Gizmodo India reports that “It is well within the realms of possibility that it could be a third party or unauthorized battery in the device that may have caused the incident.”

Using third-party (as opposed to manufacturer-approved) batteries or chargers in smartphones and other lithium-battery-powered devices is indeed dangerous. As early as 2005, the feds were issuing warnings about the fire hazards of lithium batteries, and advised consumers to never use incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers.

In 2004, a California teenager suffered second-degree burns when her cell phone caught on fire without warning; a local fire investigator said the phone suddenly burst into “fist-sized flames,” and suspected that an overheating lithium battery was to blame.

Danger goes unheeded

Unfortunately, even nine years later, many people remain completely unaware of such dangers. Just last month, a 13-year-old in Texas had her bedding catch on fire after the third-party battery in her smartphone overheated and started smoldering. Luckily, she wasn't hurt and, while the fire did destroy her bed and bedding, it was extinguished before it could spread to the rest of the house.

The problem is not limited to smartphones, with or without manufacturer-approved batteries. Bulk shipments of any lithium batteries on passenger flights have been banned since 2004, because when bulk piles of such batteries catch on fire, that fire is very difficult to put out (especially on an in-flight airplane).

In 2007, the feds considered new restrictions for transporting lithium batteries on airplanes, but said at the time it had no plans to prohibit passengers from carrying battery-operated devices with them; only checked baggage and cargo would be affected.

Other hazards

Other lithium-ion battery products have proved to be fire hazards over the past few months. Last February, Bombardier Recreational Products recalled over 1,600 pairs of heated gloves and their rechargeable batteries, because the batteries could overheat and cause a fire hazard. A week earlier, Lucent Ace recalled some of its LED flashlights because their lithium batteries could short out, rupturing their canisters and burning their owners.

Certain brands of e-cigarette batteries have also either caught fire or exploded. In March, fire marshals in Oregon blamed e-cigs for two nighttime fires: the batteries overheated while recharging. That's why anyone who uses e-cigarettes (or any other rechargeable electronic device, for that matter) should never leave their devices plugged in overnight, or when nobody is home.

So what can you do to keep yourself and your house safe from such fire hazards? The three most important pieces of advice are: always use manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers for your smartphone, laptop, tablet or any other device; never leave the devices plugged in overnight or while you're away; and, especially while the devices are turned on, do not cover them with blankets, pillows or anything else capable of restricting airflow and preventing heat from dissipating.

(That's why the teenager in Texas had her phone catch fire last month: not only was it powered by a third-party battery, but the girl took it to bed with her and over the course of the night, it somehow ended up under her pillow.)

You should also keep an eye out for recalls of any other lithium-battery products, to make sure none of them apply to things you've bought.

And remember that, as of last month, all flyers in American airspace are required to have their smartphones, laptops and other battery-operated devices fully charged and capable of being turned on, because if any such device has a dead battery, TSA will assume it is a bomb.

Everybody's always looking for ways to save money, especially In this economy, and one common money-saving tip you'll often hear is to watch out for excessive “brand loyalty.”

Sometimes people let themselves get so accustomed to paying premium prices for Brand A, they overlook Brand X which works just as well for a considerably lower price.

Various types of brand loyalty which serve only to empty your wallet include paying extra for clothing just because it has a designer's name on the label, or overlooking store-brand foods which are often made by name-brand companies, only without the fancy packaging.

That said, while most flavors of brand loyalty are potential money-wasters, there are a few areas where it makes good economic sense and one where it's downright mandatory: power sources for electronic devices with rechargeable batteries, such as phones, laptops, tablets and even e-cigarettes.

No matter which manufacturer made your devices, you should always stick with manufacturer-approved batteries, chargers and other accessories, rather than buy third-party products which might prove dangerously incompatible with your device.

At best, third-party batteries will likely void your manufacturer's warranty. At worst, they can make your devices overheat, catch fire or even explode. It happened to Ginny in Thousand Oaks, California, who wrote to share her story with us so that others might learn from her family's dangerously close call:

I'm still recovering from an adrenaline rush after yesterday when my daughter's Toshiba laptop caught on fire and exploded! …. It *could have* blown up in my face but I ran fast enough to throw it out the front door first, and then my son's who threw it again away from the house. These are the things that keep going through my mind.

The only damage was the laptop and my nerves (and a scorched wall, burned comforter and dirty smoke) but I want to share my experience because I had NO idea this could happen!

Got too hot

Ginny's 13-year-old daughter was reclining on her bed doing homework on her laptop when “it got too hot and she smelled smoke.” She immediately unplugged the laptop and turned it off, but it was too late:

It was BAD; there was toxic smoke, flames, shrapnel and the fire doesn't go out no matter what you try; it was like a nuclear reactor meltdown sans radiation (I hope lol) that gets bigger instead of smaller until it blows up and doesn't stop for a long time.

When lithium-ion batteries catch on fire, they genuinely are very difficult to extinguish: they can reach temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and they also might explode (which are two reasons why bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries have been banned on U.S. passenger flights for over a decade now, since 2004). Ginny understandably found herself badly shaken by the incident:

I am buying a "Class D" fire extinguisher or two today after watching a YouTube warning, but I am not sure that would stopped the exploding lithium batteries …. I had NO idea this was a possibility. The laptop always ran hot - it was old and we bought it used. We got a new fan, and recently replaced the battery.

Uh-oh. Replaced the battery? We asked Ginny if the new battery was Toshiba-approved, or made by a third party.

I'm afraid the batteries were 3rd party. My husband had just replaced them because the Toshiba battery died, but I didn't realize he had done that. I never use 3rd party batteries in my cameras and would have objected to them if I had known but he likes to save money (hah! House fires aren't cheap, nor is the burn center, worst case scenario).

Not unusual

Ginny's wasn't the only family to suffer a close call thanks to a third-party battery. Last July, a 13-year-old in Texas accidentally set her bed on fire with her smartphone, which was not only powered by a third-party battery, but ended up under her pillow one night, so that the heat generated by the battery had no place to dissipate and made the pillow start smoldering.

The next month, an airplane about to take off from a runway in Tel Aviv instead had to be evacuated, after the battery in a passenger's iPhone caught fire.

Not that such fires are anything new. Back in 2004, a California teenager suffered second-degree burns when her cell phone caught fire without warning. A local fire investigator said the phone suddenly burst into “fist-sized flames,” and suspected an overheating lithium battery was to blame.

By 2005, the feds were warning consumers about the fire hazards and related dangers posed by rechargeable batteries. That March, for example, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a list of “cell phone safety tips” and the first item was this: never use incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers. Whichever brand of phone you have, you must stick with manufacturer-approved batteries rather than buy from third-party sources, as the manufacturers can't guarantee that third-party devices are compatible with their devices.

To protect yourself and keep your house safe from such fire hazards, the three most important pieces of advice are:

• always use manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers for your smartphone, laptop, tablet or any other device;
• never leave the devices plugged in overnight or while you're away from home; and,
• especially while the devices are turned on, do not cover them with blankets, pillows or anything else capable of restricting airflow and preventing heat from dissipating.

As Ginny ruefully noted: “I knew that third-party batteries might hurt my camera, but I didn't know they might hurt me.” 

NVIDIA Corp., of Santa Clara, Calif., is recalling about 88,000 NVIDIA SHIELD tablet computers in the U.S. and Canada.

The lithium-ion battery in the tablets can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

The company has received 4 reports of batteries overheating due to thermal runaway, including 2 reports of damage to flooring.

This recall involves NVIDIA SHIELD tablet computers with 8-inch touch screens. Model numbers P1761, P1761W and P1761WX and serial numbers 0410215901781 through 0425214604018 are included in this recall.

NVIDIA and the model and serial numbers are etched on the left side edge of the tablets. The SHIELD logo is on the back of the tablets.

The computers, manufactured in China, were sold at GameStop stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, GameStop.com, NewEgg.com, TigerDirect.com and other websites from July 2014, through July 2015, for between $300 and $400.

Consumers should immediately stop using the tablets and contact NVIDIA for instructions on receiving a free replacement tablet.

Consumers may contact NVIDIA toll free at (888) 943-4196 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.nvidia.com and click on “NVIDIA Tablet Recall Program” at the bottom center of the page in green letters.

It's lithium ion batteries that power the iPhones, iPads and other iStuff that have come to be regarded as the essentials of life. Only problem is, they tend to catch fire, leading Boeing Co. to warn airlines that loading up their planes' cargo compartments with bulk battery shipments pose unacceptable fire hazards.

There've been plenty of cases of individual phones and other devices catching fire, both on the grund and in the air. Just one blazing phone is a problem; think what a blazing pallet of burning batteries could do.

That, says the Wall Street Journal, is what led Boeing to issue a formal warning to its customers, urging them to stop accepting large shipments of lithium batteries until safer packaging and fire protection efforts can be worked out.

Let them take a slow boat from China, Boeing advised, though not in so many words.

Nothing new

It's hardly a new problem. There have been many case over the years of cell phones igniting in people's pockets, on airplanes and in other inconvenient locations.

Last August, an airplane was evacuated in Tel Aviv after an iPhone 5 caught fire and filled the cabin with smoke. Last July, a smartphone caught fire under a 13-year-old girl's pillow in Dallas. And way back in 2008, a laptop computer caught fire in a vintage pickup truck in Nevada, destroying the truck, a Remington rifle and setting off two boxes of ammunition.

Boeing has reportedly been giving the no-big-battery-cartons advice to airlines who asked but has now issued a formal warning to all of the world's carriers, who are expected to comply. Airlines that disregard the warning would be on shaky legal ground in the event of a disaster attributed to flaming batteries.

Feds pondering

Boeing at least beat the U.S. government, which has been considering rules limited lithium batteries in carry-on luggage since 2007. In March 2007, the Department of Transportation said there had been five fires in airplane passenger cabins or cargo holds since 2005, a period of only two years.

Lithium metal batteries were banned from the cargo holds of U.S. airliners in 2004 but lithium ion batteries -- which are much more common -- are still good to go.

Lithium metal batteries are nonrechargeable while the lithium ion type is the one we're all familiar with -- requiring frequent plug-ins to keep the juices flowing.

The problem is that other things can get the juices flowing as well. Both types of batteries contain chemical-infused metals that get very hot very quickly if they come into contact with each other due to a short circuit or leaking seal. The result is a fast-spreading, very hot fire that is very difficult to extinguish.

While a single battery catching fire in a phone or laptop may start a small fire, a battery catching fire in a shipment of thousands of batteries could start a blaze that would quickly become catastrophic. 

Many airlines have already stopped accepting battery shipments and Boening's warning may push the recalcitrants to act as well. While Boeing's warning doesn't have the force of law, airlines nearly always comply with formal warnings from manufacturers, so Boeing may have accomplished what governments so far have not gotten around to.

Fujitsu America of Sunnyvale, Calif., is recalling about 305 Fujitsu notebook computer battery packs in the U.S. and Canada.

The battery packs can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

The company has received three reports of the battery packs catching fire, including two in Japan and one in China and causing fire damage to rugs, bedding, a desk and other furniture. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Fujitsu lithium ion battery packs sold or provided as replacement battery packs for the following Fujitsu notebook computers: Celsius H720 and LIFEBOOK E752, P701, P702, P770, P771, P772, S752, S762 and T580. The battery packs were also sold separately. The black battery packs measure about 8 inches long, 2 inches wide and about 0.8 inches high.

Model number CP556150-1 including all serial numbers, and model number CP556150-2 with serial number range Z120102 through Z120512 are included in this recall. The model and serial numbers are printed on the white battery label. The notebook computer’s model number is printed on a label on the bottom of the notebook.

The batteries, manufactured in China, were sold online at www.shopfujitsu.com and other Web retailers from August 2012, through July 2015, for about $150.

Consumers should immediately turn off their Fujitsu notebook computer, remove the battery pack and contact Fujitsu for a free replacement battery pack. Consumers can continue to use their Fujitsu notebook computer without the battery pack by plugging in the AC adapter and power cord.

Consumers may contact Fujitsu at 800-838-5487 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (CT) Monday – Friday or online at www.fujitsu.com/us and click on “Important Announcement: Voluntary Battery Recall and Replacement” for more information.

PNY Technologies of Parsippany, N.J., is recalling about 56,800 portable lithium polymer battery packs in the U.S. and Canada.

Batteries can overheat and vent flames, posing fire and burn hazards.

The company has received one report of venting with flames. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves portable lithium polymer battery packs with model number T10400 that are used to charge USB-enabled smartphones, tablets and other USB-powered devices.

The batteries are black or grey hand-held devices, 4 inches x 2.75 inches x 0.75 inches, with two USB outputs and four blue LED lights. PNY is laser-printed along the bottom on the front of the battery.

The battery packs, manufactured in China, were sold at Best Buy, Office Depot, Office Max and other retail stores nationwide and online at amazon.com and frys.com from January 2014, through August 2015, for about $50.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled batteries and contact PNY for a free replacement rechargeable battery.

Consumers may contact PNY Technologies toll-free at 888-316-1194 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, online at www.pny.com and click on “Product Recall” under the “Support” menu at the bottom of the page, or by email at Tech-Support-T10400@pny.com.

Eastwood Co., of Pottstown, Pa., is recalling about 500 Rockwood multi-function power packs.

The power packs’ lithium ion batteries can burst during charging, posing a fire hazard.

There have been two reports of the battery packs’ lithium ion batteries bursting during charging and emitting black smoke, damaging carpet and leaving a black mark on a wall. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Rockwood portable power packs with lithium ion batteries and cables. They are used to charge a variety of electronic devices and car batteries and have a recessed LED flashlight.

The power packs have a black plastic cover with “Rockwood” printed in white on the top. They measure about 6 inches long, 3 inches wide and 1 inch tall. A yellow and white danger label is on the bottom. Item number 30554 is printed on the packaging.

The power packs, manufactured in China, were sold at Eastwood stores in Chicago, Parma, Ohio, and Pottstown, Pa., in Eastwood’s catalog and online at www.eastwood.com and other websites from January 2015, through October 2015, for between $50 and $110.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled power packs and return them to Eastwood for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Eastwood at 800-345-1178 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday or online at http://www.eastwood.com/images/recall_poster_r2_combined.pdf.

January 21, 2004
Browning is recalling the CR123A lithium batteries sold with Browning Black Ice flashlights. The batteries can short out, causing the flashlight's canister to rupture and possibly injure the user.

There have been two reports of the flashlights rupturing. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled 3-volt lithium batteries were packaged in pairs with Browning Black Ice 6-volt Xenon 6 LED flashlights. The batteries were also sold separately in packs of two. No other Black Ice model flashlights are involved in this recall.

The flashlights were sold at hunting and sporting goods stores nationwide during December 2003 for about $50.

Consumers should remove the batteries from the flashlights and contact Browning for information on receiving a refund or replacement.

Consumer Contact: Contact Browning at (800) 637-0230 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. MT Monday through Friday or visit the firms Web site at www.Browning.com/recall.

February 3, 2004
Fuji batteries sold with Dorcy Xenon flashlights are being recalled. The batteries may overheat, leak, or rupture, presenting a potential for fire and injury.

The recall affects Fuji Power and A&T; Fuji Power CR123A 3-volt lithium batteries originally provided with the Dorcy Spyder Tactical Xenon Light (Product 41-4200), also sold in packages of two flashlights under the name Dorcy Xenon Tactical Light.

Five reports have been received about batteries overheating and causing the flashlight to burst. Dorcy has received four reports of minor damage to clothing and personal items and burn injuries. In one case, the batteries allegedly caused or contributed to a house fire.

Each of the 3-volt lithium batteries has a white label with the words "Fuji Power" or "A&T; Fuji Power CR123A." The batteries were provided separately in pairs in packaging with the flashlights.

The flashlights were sold by national retailers including BJ's Wholesale Club, Orchard Supply Hardware, Ace Hardware, Tru Value Hardware, Meijer Stores, Fred Meyer, Marvins, Sport Chalet, and Sportsman Guide.

Call Dorcy International Inc. toll-free at (800) 837-8558 to receive free replacement batteries for each pair of batteries originally provided with the Spyder Tactical Xenon Light or the Xenon Tactical Light. Consumers also can return the flashlights to the store for a refund or replacement.

Consumer Contact: Call Dorcy International Inc. toll-free at (800) 837- 8558 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Dorcys web site is www.dorcy.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).