Why Anker Recalled Its Batteries and What It Means for Consumers
With how popular portable battery packs are, when a bunch of packs suddenly start catching fire, it’s a pretty big deal. In June, Anker announced a recall on over a million battery packs, then added five more models to the list a few weeks later “out of an abundance of caution.” After further investigation, some of these certainly carry a risk, so this is your reminder to dispose of and replace any affected units.
Many of Anker’s most popular 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh models are involved, and owners must take the recall seriously. While Anker mentioned it added more to the list just to be safe, reports from the CPSC paint a slightly different picture.
According to an update from the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), Anker recalled numerous portable charger power banks over the summer. The update today had more information on the investigation, and it says: “The firm has received 33 reports of fire and explosion incidents. Four minor burn injuries and one report of substantial property damage have been reported.”
That’s not to be taken lightly: no one wants to lose a home over a $30 mobile accessory. While our earlier coverage mentioned which models are a part of the recall, we’ll list them again below. Many of Anker’s popular MagGo, Zolo, and Powercore (A1263) must be replaced and properly disposed of or otherwise recycled.
The product number can be found by checking the back or side of the device. For example, I have an Anker Zolo 20K that isn’t on the recall list, but another one of mine was, and Anker already sent me a replacement product.
- Anker Power Bank (10K) — Model A1257
- Anker Power Bank (20,000mAh, Built-In USB-C Cable) — Model A1647
- Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh) — Model A1652
- Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, Built-In USB-C and Lightning Cable) — Model A1681
- Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, Built-In USB-C Cable) — Model A1689
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Since this situation, Anker has implemented a series of enhanced quality assurance protocols designed to detect manufacturing issues earlier in the production cycle. “These safeguards—including expanded component-level audits and supplier testing—helped us identify a potential issue with common lithium-ion battery cells from a single vendor. While the likelihood of malfunction is considered minimal, out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to initiate a voluntary global recall of several Anker power bank models.”
If you have one of these Anker power banks, you must stop using it immediately. You can claim your free replacement by submitting a recall claim form and proof of purchase.
Even if you filled out the recall form, took photos, and received a replacement (like I have), you still need to dispose of the old one properly. That’s the most important thing here. Several resources, like Call2Recycle, have more information on how and where to take your defective unit, along with a location finder.
Additionally, many big-box hardware stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Walmart have lithium-ion battery recycle bins. That’s the best place to take it, as the regular garbage or recycling bin you put on the street at home isn’t a safe location, especially on these models that present a greater fire risk.
Source: CPSC
