More than 34,000 power banks that have been recalled due to a risk of causing serious burns and property damage are still in the hands of consumers, the consumer commission warns.
The portable battery packs, containing highly flammable rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, are designed to charge mobile phones and other electronic devices on the go.
Since 2020, there have been 17 power bank recalls published on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Product Safety website.
READ MORE: Epstein fallout poses a loyalty test: Trump – or MAGA?
Of these, nine were recalled in the last 16 months.
But thousands of them have not been returned to the retailer for refund or replacement.
“Some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and some have had their property damaged because of power banks overheating and catching fire,” ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
“Most incidents have occurred when the power bank is charging a phone or other device, which makes it more likely that they will be close to the user when they fail, increasing the likelihood of injuries.”
Power banks can catch fire, explode, or vent toxic gas when incorrectly manufactured, handled, stored or disposed of.
The ACCC encourages anyone using any power bank that contains lithium-ion batteries to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, store the devices in a cool, dry place and avoid using them on flammable materials such as beds, sofas or carpet.
The commission urges anyone with a recalled power bank to stop using it immediately.
Some of the recalled models that are at risk of overheating and catching fire include the Quad lock MAG battery pack and BoostCharge Pro fast wireless charger for Apple watch + power bank 10K.
Some models, including the Anker Power Bank Model: A1257, A1647, A1681, A1689, SnapWireless PowerPack Slim (Gen 1), Anker power bank A1647, Baseus magnetic wireless charging power banks 6000mAh 20W and MagMove 5K Power Bank have caused known incidents causing harm.
One model, the Baseus power bank 65W 30000 mAh (model number: BS-30KP365) has had 76 reports of incidents, including 72 reports of bulging and four reports of fire.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
