Google’s Fitbit issues recall for 1.7 million smartwatches due to overheating issue

Fitbit that is owned by Google, has issued a recall for its smartwatches due to burning risks. The gadget can overheat, and based on the announcement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the smartwatches were sold in the United States and internationally.

In total, Fitbit recalls 1.7 million units, and 1 million are in the U.S., while the 700,000 were distributed in other countries. As per CNBC, the overheating problem was due to the device’s lithium-ion batteries. This can lead to burns thus, a recall is needed to be put in place.

The CPSC said that owners of Fitbit must stop using them right away. It was said that the maker of the smartwatch will issue a refund of $299 once the gadget is returned. The company may also distribute a discount code to get a 40% discount on some select Fitbit devices.

Fitbit’s spokesman clarified that burns are rare, and the recall does not affect the brand’s other smartwatch models and fitness trackers. Then again, the company already received at least 115 reports of overheating batteries in the U.S.

All in all, 78 reported burn injuries, with two people suffering from third-degree burns while four others had second-degree burns. Globally, 59 reports of overheating were forwarded to Fitbit, with 40 of the cases involving burn injuries.

The recall is a voluntary move from Fitbit and affects smartwatches that were sold between September 2017 and December 2021. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that this recall is being carried out in cooperation with health regulators in Mexico and Canada.

Fitbit is a best-selling device since users can easily track heart rate, sleep, steps, and exercise activities and this is not the first time it has issued a recall for its watches. The New York Times reported that before it was acquired by Google, the company recalled over a million Force watches after complaints of severe skin irritation came in, and this was in 2014.

At any rate, Google invested $2.1 billion to acquire Fitbit in January 2021. The deal was completed last year and with the addition of the brand to Google’s portfolio, it is hoped that the tech company’s presence in the wearables market would improve.