Samsung recalls 1 million devices
Galaxy Note 7 phone can overheat, catch fire
Samsung officially has recalled 1 million of its Galaxy Note 7 phones sold before Sept. 15 because of “serious fire and burn hazards.” The electronics giant made the announcement during a conference call with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission late Thursday.
Samsung says it received 92 reports of batteries in the popular smartphone overheating in the U.S., resulting in 26 instances of burns and 55 of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage, according to the agency.
Samsung Electronics America said Note 7 replacement units will be available in the U.S. at most retail stores by Sept. 21.
“Our collaboration with the CPSC to fast-track a voluntary recall in the U.S. addresses safety concerns by ensuring we reach Note 7 owners quickly,” Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday travelers can bring Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones under recall onto planes only if they turn off the device, disconnect it from any charging equipment, disable all apps that could inadvertently activate the phone and keep the device in a carry-on bag.
The Galaxy Note 7 might not be Samsung’s only problem smartphone. A California man claims in a lawsuit filed in federal court in New Jersey last week that a Galaxy S7 Edge badly burned his right leg when it burst into flames in late May.
Daniel Ramirez, working a construction job in Akron, Ohio, says he “heard a whistling and screeching sound and noticed his (right-front) pocket vibrating and moving around, as well as thick smoke ascending from his pocket,” according to the 19-page suit. The Tracy, Calif., resident said he suffered second- and third-degree burns when the handset ignited his pants and “melted” them to his leg. Ramirez is seeking more than $15,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.