More than two years after recalling nearly 1.7 million Ionic smartwatches sold globally, Google-owned Fitbit will pay a $12.2 million fine for failing to warn consumers that the products could overheat and Can cause burns, federal regulators said Thursday.
Fitbit received multiple reports of lithium-ion batteries overheating in watches during 2018, 2019, and continuing into 2020. According To the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In early 2020, Fitbit released an update to fix the flaw, but continued to hear from people suffering burns and did not report the problem to regulators as is legally required.
CPSC Commissioner Rich Trumka Jr. said, “While health-conscious people wore Fitbit Ionic smartwatches to track their fitness, they had no idea that the watches were putting their safety at risk. I didn't know because Fitbit didn't say anything.” In a statement on Thursday.
CPSC and Fitbit announced recall In March 2020, Ionic Smartwatch reported that the company had received 115 reports of the devices' batteries overheating in the US. Domestic customers reported 78 burn injuries, of which two were third-degree burns and four were second-degree burns; Another 40 incidents were reported internationally.
Fitbit discontinued production of its Ionic model in 2020, which was used to track activity, heart rate, and sleep.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
A Google spokesperson said, “Customer safety remains our top priority, and we are pleased to resolve this matter with the CPSC arising from the voluntary recall of the Fitbit Ionic in 2022.” Fitbit for $2.1 billion In 2019.
Nearly 1 million of the recalled smartwatches were sold in the US at retailers including Best Buy, Kohl's and Target, as well as online at Amazon.com and Fitbit.com from September 2017 to December 2021. Each product retailed for between $200 and $330. , Another 693,000 were sold internationally, according to the company.
The 2020 recall comes eight years after Fitbit Remembered that After its Fitbit Force activity-tracking wristband, the company received approximately 9,900 reports of skin irritation and 250 reports of blistering from the wristband.
In addition to the $12.25 million civil penalty, the settlement agreement requires Fitbit to maintain internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. The CPSC said the company also agreed to submit an annual report regarding its compliance program and internal controls.