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Toyota recalls over a million hybrid vehicles due to fire risk
Toyota is recalling more than a million Prius and C-HR hybrids worldwide due to a fire risk. Around 192,000 Prius vehicles in the US and more than 550,000 cars in Japan are involved in the recall, which is related to wiring connected to the power control unit. Insulation may wear down over time, potentially leading to a short circuit that could ultimately cause a fire.
Apple will repair defective iPhone 8 logic boards for free
We haven't seen reports of widespread problems with the iPhone 8, but Apple revealed late Friday that it's opening a Logic Board Replacement Program. According to the company "a very small percentage" of phones sold between September 2017 and March 2018 -- the first six months they were on sale -- have a manufacturing defect that can lead to restarts, freezes or a failure to start. Of course, when you sell as many phones as Apple does, even a small percentage can add up very quickly, as we've seen with previous iPhone flaws like the "no service" iPhone 7 bug or iPhone 6 Plus "touch disease." This does not apply to the iPhone 8 Plus or any other model, and owners of devices purchased during that period can hit Apple's website to check if their device is impacted -- if it is, then Apple will replace the phone for free (FYI: physical damage like a cracked screen will need to be fixed first, and that could cost you). If you'd rather wait, then the replacement program will be in force for three years from the first retail sale of a device, and does not extend its warranty.
Ford recalls 50,000 hybrid and EV wall-charging cords
A few months after Ford announced that it's ending production on all cars but the Mustang, it's got other bitter news for owners of some of its older hybrids and EVs -- but don't worry, it's not for any of the vehicles themselves. The automaker is recalling approximately 50,000 120-volt charge cords that were bundled with its 2012-15 Ford Focus Electric, 2013-15 Ford Fusion Energi and 2013-15 Ford C-MAX Energi autos.
Gmail's merciful 'undo send' feature comes to Android
Gmail's desktop 'undo send' feature is a godsend for the mashy-handed, letting you recall an email for a short time after you've sent it out into the internet ether. Now -- finally -- it's available on Android with the latest Gmail update (version 8.7).
Tesla recall covers 123,000 pre-April 2016 Model S EVs
While Tesla's current-day Model 3 production tries to keep up with demand, the company is dealing with an issue affecting earlier cars. Today it announced a recall affecting every Model S built before April 2016. That adds up to about 123,000 vehicles worldwide that it plans to retrofit with new power steering bolts because it has "observed excessive corrosion in the power steering bolts, though only in very cold climates, particularly those that frequently use calcium or magnesium road salts, rather than sodium chloride (table salt)." According to Tesla, it's initiating this recall (similar to others it has done in the past) even though it estimates that fewer than 0.2 percent of vehicles will exhibit this issue. In an email to owners it explained that if the bolts fail then the steering would still work, but with lost or reduced power assist. I've experienced this while driving and can attest that it's something you should probably hope to avoid. There's a sizeable thread on Tesla Motors Club showing at least one vehicle this happened to, but with less than an hour of service it should be preventable on other cars.
AmazonBasics power banks recalled over fire hazard concerns
AmazonBasics is great choice for everything from HDMI cables to coathangers and a whole lot more. Apparently "whole lot more" also extends to unintentional fire sources. The shopping juggernaut has recalled a half-dozen power banks sold between December 2014 and July 2017, according to The Verge, over worry that the units would overheat, melt and set themselves ablaze.
Lenovo recalls some Thinkpad X1 laptops due to overheating risks
Lenovo has just issued a recall for some of its 5th-generation X1 Carbon laptops. The company says that a limited number of the machines may have a loose screw that can damage the battery, leading to overheating and a possible fire hazard. Lenovo urges owners of these devices made between December 2016 and October 2017 check their serial number on the support page to see if their own X1 is affected. X1 Carbon laptops made after November 2017 are not affected, according to the company.
HP recalls laptop batteries due to overheating issues
If you've got an HP notebook or mobile workstation computer, you'll want to check out the latest battery recall from the company. Lithium-ion batteries for affected HP laptops were shipped between December 2015 and December 2017. There have been eight reports of the battery packs overheating, melting or charring, three of which include reports of $4,500 in property damage and one report of a first degree burn to a hand.
Netgear recalls Arlo outdoor camera power adapters over fire risks
If you bought one of Netgear's Arlo outdoor cameras and then snapped up an extra power adapter just in case, you may want to sit up and take notice. Netgear and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are recalling Arlo's aftermarket power adapter after receiving seven reports of the cord overheating and melting, in one case leading to a fire. Only 7,700 affected adapters were sold in North America between June and October, but that still presents a sizeable risk.
Honda will use targeted Facebook videos to encourage recall repairs
As the Takata airbag recall -- the largest ever US auto recall -- continues, Honda has been looking for new ways to reach customers who haven't yet brought in their vehicles for repair. And the company's next move, as Reuters reports, is to target Honda owners through Facebook. Using the tool that allows advertisers to target particular subsets of Facebook accounts, Honda will match email addresses of those with recalled vehicles to Facebook users. According to the Associated Press, at least some of the messages geared towards those Facebook accounts will be videos from Honda owners who were injured from the faulty Takata airbag systems. You can see one of the public service announcements below.
Tesla recalls 11,000 Model X SUVs for seat issues
Tesla is no stranger to voluntary recalls. The company issued notices to 90,000 Model S sedan owners for possible seatbelt defects back in 2015, another for 2,700 Model X SUVs in 2016 for a third-row seat problem, and one for 53,000 S and Model X SUV earlier this year over potential parking brake issues. It's the price of doing business -- and better that the company jumps ahead with a voluntary recall than a legally-mandated one after tragedy. Today, the automaker issued another for about 11,000 Model X's released last year, this time for the second-row seats.
Honda sets aside $605 million to settle Takata airbag claims
The Takata airbag scandal affected several companies, but Honda felt its impact the most. Now, the Japanese automaker has agreed to a $605 million settlement to pay for buyers' claims related to the deadly airbags in the US. The money Honda set aside will go towards paying for all the out-of-pocket costs and lost wages customers might have incurred from having to get their Takata airbag-equipped cars repaired. According to Financial Times, part of that amount will also be used to create an outreach program designed to speed up the pace of the recall as well as the replacement of recalled parts.
Samsung is giving Note 7 owners a hefty discount on the Note 8
If you were one of the millions of people who had to give up the recalled Galaxy Note 7, fret not, because Samsung has your back. Today, as part of its Unpacked 2017 event in NYC, the company revealed that those of you who owned the previous model will get a hefty discount on the new Note 8. The only thing you have to do is trade in your current device and, depending on the brand and condition of it, you can get up to $425 off the latest Note smartphone. If you're interested in the juicy mea culpa offer from Samsung, you'll be able to take advantage of it on Aug. 24th, the day pre-orders go live on its website.
US regulators recall refurbished Galaxy Note 4 batteries
The Galaxy Note line is having problems again. Don't worry, this is not a Note 7-level emergency. And the issues aren't Samsung's fault or even associated with the original phone model. However, batteries installed in refurbished Note 4 phones by FedEx Supply Chain and distributed through AT&T's insurance program could overheat and are now being recalled.
Glittery iPhone cases recalled after reports of chemical burns
Smartphone cases are normally as harmless as can be, but that sadly isn't always true. MixBin has recalled 263,000 iPhone cases after 24 reports of skin irritation and chemical burns when the cases broke, leaking glitter and liquid everywhere. And these aren't obscure cases, either. They've been sold at retailers like Amazon, Nordstrom Rack, Tory Burch and Victoria's Secret as recently as June, so there's a real chance you picked one up.
Honeywell recalls fire alarm gateway that can't detect fires
Tech-savvy fire alarm systems aren't without their share of problems, it seems. Honeywell is recalling its SWIFT wireless gateway after learning that the smoke detectors connected to the gateway (usually found in apartments, hotels and offices) won't always kick in -- in other words, they can't accomplish their one and only mission. The company hasn't received reports of real-world incidents and is offering a firmware update as a fix, but it clearly doesn't want to take any chances.
Fiat Chrysler software error leads to a massive truck recall
Fiat Chrysler is currently in the midst of notifying over a million people that they need to turn in the trucks they bought from the company due to a potentially dangerous software error. The automaker has announced a massive recall affecting 1.02 million 2013 to 2016 Ram 1500 and 2500, as well as 2014 to 2016 Ram 3500 pickups in the US. Chrysler's problem goes beyond the US: it's also recalling 216,007 vehicles in Canada, 21,668 in Mexico and 21,530 outside North America altogether. In the notification published on its website, the company admitted that it's "aware of one fatality, two injuries and two accidents that may be related" to its software troubles.
Tesla recalls 53,000 vehicles for potential parking brake issue
Tesla is recalling 53,000 of its Model X and Model S vehicles built between February and October 2016. Some of these might have a manufacturing flaw that prevents the electronic parking brake from being switched off. While it hasn't been linked to safety issues or accidents yet, the cautious automaker is voluntarily recalling a large number of vehicles just to be safe.
Energizer's Xbox One battery charger recalled for burn hazard
Faulty parts in tech devices have always threatened a particularly explosive calamity, but the last year has seen recalls for a bizarre range of devices that set themselves on fire. Top of the list: HP laptop batteries, Samsung's washing machines and 2016's biggest fail punchline, the Note 7. The latest device to get a recall notice is Energizer's double controller battery rechargers for the Xbox One, which is reportedly overheating so badly that it's melted the plastic casing on a few dozen units.
Daimler recalls one million Mercedes after dozens catch fire
German automaker Daimler AG announced a major worldwide auto recall today, encompassing one million recent models of Mercedes-Benz vehicles that are at risk of catching fire due to a potentially faulty fuse. So far, 51 vehicle fires have be reported, but there have been no reported injuries or deaths.
