Some 1.7 million Fitbit Ionics pulled due to safety concern, users offered refund
Fitbit has announced today it is pulling around 1.7 million Ionic smartwatches due to burn hazard. Users are being offered a full refund, along with a discount on further purchases.
The San Francisco wearables manufacturer took to social media to announce the news. The full statement can be seen below.
This follows an announcement by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Apparently, it has been discovered that the product’s lithium-ion battery can overheat in certain instances, which can form a burn hazard.
In fact, Fitbit has received 115 reports in the US and a further 59 internationally of just such a thing happening! Of these, 78 reports were of burn injuries in the US and 40 internationally. A small handful of these caused third and fourth-degree burns.
Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets
Of the 1.7 million Fitbit Ionics affected, it is estimated that about a million of these are in the US. The US Consumer Prodcut Safety Commission advises that users immediately stop using the recalled Ionics and contact Fitbit to get pre-paid packaging to send the device back. Upon receipt, Fitbit will issue users a refund of $299.
What’s more, the company will also gift those affected a discount code for 40% off select Fitbit devices. You’ll have 90 days to redeem this offers after registering for your refund.
It seems most but not all models of Ionic are effected. The primary culprit is model number FB503 with a polyurethane band. So check your device. Below is a table showing which users can send their device back. It does not matter if you are actively using it. So even if the Ionic has been sitting in your desk drawer for the past year, you are eligible for the refund.
Launched in 2017, Fitbit has officially stopped manufacturing the Ionic three years later. However, even after that date you were able to buy the watch as not not all stocks were sold out. The ones with the burn hazard were sold in various retail outlets (Amazon, Kohls, Best Buy, Target, Fitbit) from September 2017 through to December 2021.
This brings back memories of the Fitbit Force activity tracker. The company pulled that one from sale after receiving nearly 10,000 complains on the wristband irritating skin. Amongst these were 250 instances of blistering.
The easiest way to check if you qualify for a refund on your Ionic is to visit this page. The other option is to dial the toll-free number 888-925-1764.
Fitbit has stressed that this problem is limited to the Ionic watch and that users should stop using the device. The company says this “recall does not affect any other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers”.
Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!
