Fitbit has issued a recall on almost two million Ionic smartwatches over fears of a manufacturing fault that means some users have been burned.
The fitness-tracking device maker is recalling 1.7million watches that were manufactured between 2017 and 2020, after reports of the battery overheating and burning some users.
The company, which is owned by Google, had previously sold about 1million of the model in the US and nearly 700,000 internationally.
Several thousand more could be in the hands of the public through third party sellers.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall, warning that the watch’s lithium-ion battery can overheat, causing a “burn hazard”.
The watch was recalled after Fitbit received 174 reports of its battery overheating, including cases of 118 people being burned. Many users wear the devices in bed to monitor them while sleeping.
Two of the people injured by the watch had third-degree burns, while four others reported less severe second-degree burns.
The body said customers should contact Fitbit to return the device and receive a refund.
It said Fitbit would also provide any consumers who return their watch with a code for a discount on certain new devices.
The Ionic smartwatch, which features a 3.5cm colour LCD screen and a polyurethane band available in several colours, tracks the wearer’s activity, heart rate and sleep.
The company said the watch was manufactured between 2017 and 2020, and is no longer sold through its website, fitbit.com or authorised retailers.
However, Fitbit added that it did “not control third-party or aftermarket sellers”.
The Ionic smartwatch is the not the first product Fitbit, which was founded in San Francisco in 2007, has recalled.
In 2014 it voluntarily recalled its Force device after some customers developed an allergic reaction.
Fitbit said independent test results showed this was likely to be allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to nickel in the device’s surgical-grade stainless steel.
