Even the most exciting and seemingly convenient gadgets have a way of bringing unexpected troubles instead, whether that’s smartphones that burst into flames or toys that cause serious safety issues.Â
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 was quite popular until reports emerged about the phones overheating—some devices even caught fire or exploded due to battery issues. Airlines banned the phone & safety warnings spread worldwide, forcing Samsung to issue a global recall. They pulled the Note 7 from stores to address the problem and keep customers safe.
Hoverboards
Hoverboards were once a huge craze but then came the reports of them catching fire & even exploding because of faulty lithium-ion batteries. Several incidents led to property damage and injuries, which made retailers remove hoverboards from their shelves and companies introduce new safety standards. What was supposed to be a fun gadget turned into a safety hazard almost overnight—the issue was so widespread that numerous hoverboards, including the Hover-1 Helix, were recalled.
Google Glass
Google Glass tried to bring futuristic eyewear to the masses with built-in cameras & displays but people weren’t too keen on the idea of being recorded without their knowledge. Privacy concerns mounted and some places banned the devices entirely, which led to Google eventually pulling the consumer version from the market. They tried to make people forget the complete failure that Google Glass became.
Peloton Tread+ Treadmill
Peloton’s Tread+ gave people a sleek and connected treadmill experience—until things took a dark turn when reports surfaced of injuries, including the tragic death of a child. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned users about the risks and, after some initial resistance, Peloton issued a recall. They stopped selling the Tread+ because they needed to deal with the safety issues before thinking about bringing it back to consumers.
Mattel Aristotle Baby Monitor
Mattel planned to launch Aristotle, which was a smart baby monitor that could soothe infants & even order supplies when parents needed them—what’s not to love? Well, quite a lot as privacy advocates raised alarms about constant surveillance & data collection on young children, with some critics arguing it was too intrusive for families. After a huge backlash, Mattel decided to cancel the product and avoided putting it on shelves.
Fitbit Force
The Fitbit Force was quite a popular fitness tracker and users enjoyed tracking their activity until reports emerged of rashes & skin irritation from the wristbands. Complaints flooded in about allergic reactions to materials used in the band, so Fitbit responded by issuing a voluntary recall. They pulled the Force from stores and even gave refunds to those affected while they worked on a solution.
Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch
But that’s not all for Fitbit as their Ionic Smartwatch promised a high-tech fitness tracking experience—yet in 2022, the company received multiple reports of the watch’s battery overheating. Some users experienced burns and Fitbit issued a voluntary recall of the Ionic smartwatches that included giving full refunds to customers. Hopefully they’ve learned their lesson from their products!
Xiaomi M365 Electric Scooter
The Xiaomi M365 electric scooter used to be a rather convenient way to travel in the city until a major safety flaw came to light—the folding mechanism could fail during use and cause riders to crash! Xiaomi initiated a recall for thousands of specific versions of this scooter & pulled them from stores. However, the problem only affected a particular model so you may still be able to buy the safe versions of the M365.
