Reports of injuries from overheating batteries prompted Fitbit to recall its Ionic smartwatch.
Fitbit today recalled nearly 1.7 million Ionic smartwatches worldwide — 1 million of which were sold in the U.S. The brand advises consumers to stop using the watch immediately and contact Fitbit for a refund and a discount on future purchases.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice, the lithium-ion battery inside the watch can overheat and pose a burn hazard to the wearer. Fitbit said it has received at least 115 reports of an overheating battery from U.S. consumers and another 59 internationally.
Of those U.S. reports, 78 involved burn injuries, including two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns. Fitbit said it also received 40 reports of burn injuries internationally.
The brand voluntarily issued the recall, which includes only certain Ionic smartwatch models (see below).
Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch Recall: Burn Hazard
According to Fitbit, only the following Ionic models and colors are involved in the recall:
- FB503CPBU / Slate Blue/Burnt Orange
- FB503GYBK / Charcoal/Smoke Gray
- FB503WTGY / Blue Gray/Silver Gray
- FB503WTNV / adidas edition, Ink Blue & Ice Gray/Silver Gray
Consumers can find the model number on the back of the device near where the band attaches.
Affected Ionic watches were sold from September 2017 through December 2021 at Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, and other stores nationwide, as well as online at Amazon.com and Fitbit.com. They retailed between $200 and $330.
As a remedy, Fitbit is offering consumers a refund of $299, plus a 40% discount on select Fitbit devices. If you have a defective Fitbit Ionic, stop using it immediately and complete the online recall registration.
For questions and concerns, call toll-free at 888-925-1764 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or contact the brand online at help.fitbit.com/ionic.
