CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using Lithium-Ion Battery Chargers Linked to Fires, Death

Federal safety officials are warning consumers to immediately stop using Garberiel lithium-ion battery chargers, indicating that design defects may pose a serious risk of fires, which could lead to severe injuries or even death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued the lithium-ion battery charger warning late last week, following multiple reports of the chargers overheating, sparking or catching fire, including one incident that resulted in fatal burn injuries.

In particular, the defective chargers appear to have an “arcing” problem, which occurs when an electrical current jumps between circuits. This often results in a spark, which can lead to fires.

CPSC officials have identified at least six incidents involving the chargers over the past five years, including a house fire that killed a 74-year-old in Shreveport, Louisiana in December 2019. The fire occurred when the consumer’s charger ignited during use, resulting in fatal burns.

The defective chargers include four-slot and six-slot devices, which can be used to charge lithium-ion batteries of different sizes. The battery chargers are black, and come with a cord that connects them to a power source.

The Garberiel battery chargers were manufactured by Chinese company Jisell Inc. and sold online through Amazon.com, Newegg.com and other websites since 2019. They range in price from $10 to $18 for the four-slot chargers and $12 to $27 for the six-slot chargers.

The CPSC urges consumers who are still in possession of one of these chargers to unplug it and dispose of it immediately.

Incidents with the defective Garberiel chargers, other dangerous products or product-related injuries can be reported to CPSC at www.saferproducts.gov.

Lithium-Ion Batteries Linked to Numerous Dangers

The CPSC’s recent warning about Garberiel lithium-ion battery chargers highlights the growing concern over a dangerous phenomenon called “thermal runaway,” which poses significant risks with poorly manufactured lithium-ion products.

Thermal runaway occurs when a battery cell overheats and triggers a self-sustaining chain reaction, causing the temperature to rapidly increase. This process can lead to the battery catching fire or even exploding, particularly when multiple cells are involved.

The risks of thermal runaway are particularly high with low-quality lithium-ion products, which may use substandard materials or lack rigorous safety testing. These defects increase the likelihood of fires, explosions and severe injuries, as seen in multiple incidents reported by the CPSC.

Last month, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using universal lithium-ion e-bike and e-scooter chargers, after the agency became aware of at least 156 reports of fire and overheating incidents between January 2023 and May 2024.

Issues with lithium-ion batteries have also been connected to numerous electronic cigarette and vape products in recent years. Federal health officials have raised alarms about the risk of vape pen explosions caused by overheating lithium-ion batteries. These incidents have led to reports of severe burns, fires and even deaths, often tied to low-quality devices or products that have been modified beyond their original design.

As a result of the explosion risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated all new nicotine products must go through premarket tobacco applications (PMTAs), and have also provided FDA guidance on how to make vapes safer, by reducing the risk of vape battery explosions.