Fitbit fined $12 million for Ionic smartwatches that caused burns to 78 people.
Some consumers suffered third-degree burns due to the watches.
Fitbit has agreed to pay a $12.25 million fine related to its Ionic smartwatches, which were recalled in 2022 after receiving reports of overheating lithium-ion batteries, sometimes causing burns to users. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has provisionally accepted this agreement.
The agency worked with Fitbit to initiate a recall of 1.7 million Ionic watches after receiving a total of 115 reports of overheating batteries. Of these reports, 78 mentioned burn injuries, including two cases of third-degree burns and four of second-degree burns. Despite complaints from 2018 to 2020, and despite a firmware update implemented in 2020 to address the issue, the government agency noted that "Fitbit did not immediately report to the Commission as required."
Although the recall only involved Ionic watches, some users have claimed that other Fitbit devices also experience similar issues. In 2023, a group of consumers sued Google, Fitbit's parent company, arguing that all their devices suffered from battery problems leading to overheating, exposing users to fire and burn risks. The lawsuit alleges that Fitbit attempted to blame the issues on "consumer hygiene" and recounts multiple experiences in which Fitbit's customer service stopped responding to user inquiries regarding problems with their watches.
As part of the agreement, Fitbit will need to implement internal controls to ensure that all its devices comply with the Consumer Product Safety Act.