Amazon Power Bank Recall Issued Amid Reports of Chemical Burn, Fires

Around 260,000 Amazon Basics portable power banks have been recalled after the manufacturer received more than 50 reports of the devices overheating, resulting in at least four reports of property damage. 

The AmazonBasics portable power banks recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on March 13, following 53 consumer reports of the power banks overheating, resulting in one reported chemical burn, and four reports of property damage due to fires and smoke.

The devices are portable power banks for charging electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, or other electronic devices. The power banks contain a rechargeable lithium ion battery that may overheat and ignite, posing a fire and burn hazard to those nearby, the CPSC warns.

The recall includes six versions of AmazonBasics portable lithium ion battery chargers and power banks that are marked with Product ID codes B00LRK8EVO, B00LRK8HJ8, B00LRK8I7O, B00LRK8IV0, B00LRK8JDC or B00ZQ4JQAA, which are printed on the back of the unit. The devices were sold with battery charging capacities of 16,100 mAh, 10,000 mAh, 5,600 mAh, 2,000 mAh with micro USB cable, 3,000 mAh and 3,000 mAh with USB micro cable. The AmazonBasics logo is printed on the front of each device.

According to the CPSC, customers should stop using the devices immediately to prevent overheating, fire, and chemical burn injuries in the event the lithium ion batteries begin to overheat.

The rechargeable battery banks were manufactured in China under Guoguang Electric Company Limited and were distributed by Amazon of Seattle, Washington. They were sold at Amazon bookstores, Amazon Pop-Up stores and online through Amazon.com from December 2014 through July 2017 for between $9 and $40.

Amazon indicates that there are approximately 260,000 units impacted by the recall that were distributed for sale across the United States.

Customers are being asked to stop using the recalled battery banks immediately and to unplug them from outlet sources. Customers with recalled devices should contact Amazon’s consumer contact center at 855-215-5134 or visit them online at https://amazonpowerbank.expertinquiry.com/ for information on how to register their device to receive a full refund.