Summary
- Anker is recalling 1,158,000 PowerCore 10000 battery packs due to fire hazards and explosions.
- Owners can receive a $30 gift card or a replacement battery by submitting a claim with proof of purchase.
- Dispose of the battery safely at a hazardous waste collection facility if you own the affected model.
With how commonplace battery packs are, when a particular range of packs suddenly starts blowing up, it’s a source of concern. Now, Anker is recalling a battery pack, of which it sold over a million units. Yikes.
Anker has initiated a widespread recall of its PowerCore 10000 portable power bank due to multiple reports of the device overheating, which has led to fires, explosions, and property damage. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) announced the recall, with the agency citing a critical defect in the lithium-ion battery that presents significant fire and burn hazards to consumers.
The recall affects approximately 1,158,000 units sold in the United States alone. According to the official notice, the company has received 19 reports of incidents involving this battery pack model, including two cases where owners sustained minor burn injuries. The overheating and subsequent fires have also resulted in 11 claims of property damage, with losses totaling more than $60,700. 19 reports might seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the over a million units sold, but it also means that there are potentially millions of potential fire hazards and disasters waiting to happen out there, and it’s better to be safe than sorry—that’s what recalls are about.
The specific product subject to this recall is the Anker PowerCore 10000 with the model number A1263. If you own one of these, you should immediately stop using it. The model information can be verified by checking the text on the rear of the unit, which should read “Anker PowerCore 10000” and clearly display the model number “A1263.” These were sold from June 2016 through December 2022, but most of the reports of battery packs exploding were probably power banks on the older side.
Owners of the recalled model can receive either a $30 gift card or a replacement 10,000 mAh power bank. To process a claim, consumers must visit Anker’s official recall webpage. The submission will require photographic evidence: one picture of the power bank with the current date and the word “recall” or “recalled” written on it in permanent marker, and a second photo clearly showing the model and serial number printed on the bottom of the device. You won’t be shipping it back to Anker—since it’s a fire hazard, you’ll need to safely dispose of it. You can’t just throw it in the trash. Instead, you must take the recalled power banks to a designated household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility.
If you have an affected unit, make sure to follow all the appropriate steps. Anker will give you a replacement battery, thankfully, so you won’t be left without options.
Source: Engadget