Rechargeable Heated Insole Lawsuit Alleges Lithium-Ion Batteries Caught Fire, Burned Feet

Growing number of lawsuits raise concerns that rechargeable heated insoles may contain defects which allow lithium-ion batteries to overheat or fail, creating risks of fires and explosions.

A Tennessee man has filed a product liability lawsuit claiming that rechargeable heated insoles purchased through Amazon suddenly exploded while he was wearing them, causing the lithium-ion batteries to melt, ignite and adhere directly to his skin.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Mark Alexander Jr. in the U.S. District for the Western District of Tennessee on January 25, naming Amazon.com Inc., Amazon.com Services LLC, Amazon Advertising LLC, Metasono and Metasono US as defendants.

Heated insoles, also called electric foot warmers, are rechargeable inserts placed inside footwear that use built-in heating components to keep feet warm. Many models allow users to adjust heat levels through onboard controls, remote devices or smartphone-based applications.

However, a growing number of reports have linked these products to overheating, battery failure and thermal runaway, with some devices igniting or catching fire during normal use. Reported injuries have included second- and third-degree burns, including full-thickness burns that destroyed multiple layers of skin and underlying tissue. In many cases, victims require painful surgical debridement and continue to suffer permanent nerve damage, chronic pain, loss of sensation and lasting mobility problems.

As these injuries have mounted, heated insoles lawsuits are being filed against Amazon and product manufacturers, alleging that dangerous heated footwear was sold without adequate safety testing, warnings or consumer protections despite the foreseeable risk of serious burn injuries.

According to the complaint, Alexander purchased the heated insoles through Amazon’s online marketplace in January 2024, for use during cold-weather activities, including hunting. The product was marketed as Metasono-brand rechargeable heated insoles equipped with built-in lithium-ion batteries and a remote control used to adjust heat settings.

The lawsuit states that on January 26, 2024, Alexander inserted the heated insoles into a pair of boots molded into his waders and traveled to his hunting location, using the product as intended. While wearing the boots outdoors, the complaint alleges that the lithium-ion batteries inside the insoles overheated, exploded and caught fire.

Since the insoles were trapped inside the waders, Alexander alleges that he could not quickly remove his boots, which the lawsuit claims significantly increased the severity of the burns. After removing the footwear as soon as possible, he reportedly discovered serious injuries that required immediate medical attention, including repeated evaluations, wound care, debridement and ongoing pain management. The complaint alleges that Alexander has been unable to work since the incident and continues to experience swelling, pain and long-term impairment.

The lawsuit seeks to hold Amazon accountable for its role in advertising the heated insoles, processing the transaction, accepting payment, storing the product in its warehouses and delivering it to Alexander through its Fulfillment by Amazon program. Furthermore, the filing alleges Amazon received a portion of the sales proceeds and exercised substantial control over the product’s availability, distribution and post-sale handling.

Alexander also alleges that the heated insoles were defectively designed and manufactured, making them prone to lithium-ion battery overheating, ignition and explosion during normal and foreseeable use. He claims the risks posed by the product outweighed any potential utility and that safer alternative designs were available at the time the insoles were sold.

The filing suggests that Amazon had actual knowledge of similar safety incidents involving heated insoles prior to Alexander’s injuries, including reports from consumers who allegedly suffered burn injuries and even posted warnings about the risk. Despite this alleged knowledge, it claims the Metasono heated insoles remained available for sale on Amazon’s marketplace.

“The heated insoles were unreasonably dangerous when they were placed into the stream of commerce in that they were prone to lithium-ion battery issues, overheating, igniting, and causing burn injuries during normal and foreseeable use.”

– Mark Alexander Jr. v. Amazon.com Inc. et al

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict product liability, manufacturing defect, negligence, negligent undertaking, breach of express warranty and violations of Tennessee’s Products Liability Act. It seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages and permanent injuries.

Heated Insole Burn Injury Lawsuits

With a growing number of reports linking heated insoles, electric socks and foot-warming products to burn injuries, heated insole injury attorneys are now reviewing potential claims on behalf of consumers nationwide. Investigations are focusing on incidents where these battery-powered products allegedly malfunctioned during ordinary use, leading to serious injuries, including:

• Burns to the feet or toes
• Heated insole overheating, igniting or catching fire during normal use
• Emergency medical treatment or hospitalization for burn injuries
• Surgery or skin grafts related to foot burns
• Ongoing pain, scarring or mobility limitations

These foot warmer lawsuits seek to hold manufacturers and sellers, including online marketplaces like Amazon, accountable for allegedly distributing unsafe products without proper testing, safeguards or warnings.

Sign up for more legal news that could affect you or your family.