More than 34,000 recalled power banks, known to pose serious risks of burns and property damage, remain in use by consumers, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned.
These portable battery packs, which use highly flammable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, are designed to charge mobile phones and other devices on the go.
Since 2020, the ACCC has published 17 recalls of power banks, nine of which occurred in the past 16 months. Despite this, thousands have not been returned for refunds or replacements.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe stated that some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and others have experienced property damage due to overheating and fires caused by these power banks. Most incidents happened while the power banks were charging devices, increasing the risk of injury since the user is nearby.
Power banks can catch fire, explode, or emit toxic gases if they are improperly manufactured, handled, stored, or disposed of.
The ACCC advises consumers to follow manufacturers’ instructions carefully, keep power banks in cool, dry places, and avoid using them on flammable surfaces such as beds, sofas, or carpets.
Consumers are urged to stop using any recalled power bank immediately.
Some at-risk models include the Quad Lock MAG battery pack and the BoostCharge Pro fast wireless charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K.
Other models linked to incidents include various Anker models (A1257, A1647, A1681, A1689), SnapWireless PowerPack Slim (Gen 1), Baseus magnetic wireless charging power banks, and the MagMove 5K Power Bank.
Notably, the Baseus 65W 30000mAh power bank (model BS-30KP365) has had 76 reported incidents, including 72 cases of battery bulging and 4 reports of fires.
