Fitbit has agreed to pay a $12.25 million civil penalty due to delays in reporting that the battery in their Ionic smartwatch could overheat, posing a burn hazard. Despite receiving numerous reports of overheating and injuries, Fitbit did not issue a voluntary recall until March 2022. The company received at least 174 reports of battery overheating globally, leading to 118 reported injuries including third-degree burns.
Fitbit assured that customer safety remains a top priority and stated that the recall stemmed from the 2022 voluntary initiative. The smartwatch, which tracks activity, heart rate, and sleep, had sold approximately one million units in the United States between September 2017 and December 2021, with an additional 693,000 sold globally. Fitbit ceased production of the Ionic in 2020.
As part of the settlement, Fitbit agreed to submit an annual report and provide updates on its compliance policies. Following Google’s acquisition of Fitbit for $2.1 billion in 2021, the company is prohibited from using the health data collected by Fitbit for ad targeting. In the past, Fitbit has been involved in recalls due to skin irritation caused by their devices, as well as nickel allergy concerns with their Flex wristbands.
Owners of the Ionic smartwatch affected by the recall were offered a $299 refund upon returning their devices, along with a discount code for select Fitbit products. Fitbit emphasized that the reported injuries represented less than 0.01% of all Ionic watches sold.
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