Rechargeable lithium ion polymer batteries
CPSC Recall #16-148 — April 18, 2016
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 16-148 |
| Recall Date | April 18, 2016 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 1,050 in the U.S. (in addition, about 40 were sold in Canada) |
| Importer | Brunton Outdoor Inc., of Louisville, Colo. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Adorama |
| Austin Canoe & Kayak |
| Moontrail |
| REI |
| The Clymb and other outdoor equipment retailers nationwide and online at www.amazon.com |
| www.backcountry.com |
| www.bhphotovideo.com |
| www.forestry-suppliers.com |
| and www.opticsplanet.com from February 2011 through May 2015 for about $300. |
Product
Rechargeable lithium ion polymer batteries
Description
The Impel and Impel 2 power packs’ lithium ion batteries can overheat and catch on fire during charging.
Hazard
The rechargeable lithium ion polymer batteries can overheat and catch fire during charging, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received two reports of battery packs overheating and catching on fire; with one incident resulting in about $25,000 of property damage and another one in a garage burning down with property and smoke damage to the adjacent residence. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled power packs and contact Brunton for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.