Fitbit recalls nearly one million smartwatches in the US due to burn risk

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday that Fitbit, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., has received at least 115 reports in the US, and 59 reports internationally about overheating of its watches in Ionic models. Huh.

The regulator said there have been 78 reports of burns in the US, including two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns.

The commission said customers should immediately stop using the recalled smartwatch and contact Fitbit to obtain prepaid packaging to return the device.

Upon receipt of the device, consumers will be refunded $299, the CPSC said. According to the regulator, Fitbit will also offer customers a discount code of 40% off on select Fitbit devices.

According to the CPSC, the voluntary recall is being conducted in collaboration with health regulators in Canada and Mexico.

Fitbit ceased production of the Ionic model watches in 2020. According to CPSC, the company has also sold around 693,000 internationally.

“Out of great caution, we are voluntarily recalling the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch,” a Fitbit representative said.

“We received a very limited number of injury reports—representing less than 0.01% of the total units sold at the CPSC announcement—that over battery life in Fitbit Ionic smartwatches poses a risk of burns,” the representative said. “These incidents are very rare and this voluntary recall does not affect other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.”