Fitbit to Pay $12.25 Million for Failing to Report Burn Hazard in Smartwatches

Fitbit LLC, a San Francisco-based company, has agreed to pay a $12.25 million civil penalty to resolve allegations by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that it failed to promptly report a hazardous defect in its Ionic smartwatches. The penalty is part of a settlement provisionally accepted by the CPSC. It addresses claims that the company knowingly delayed reporting a defect that posed a significant risk of serious injury to consumers.

Between 2018 and 2020, Fitbit received numerous reports of overheating Ionic smartwatches, some resulting in serious burns, including second- and third-degree burns. Although Fitbit attempted to mitigate the issue in 2020 through a firmware update, incidents of overheating and injuries persisted. The company failed to inform the CPSC of the risks promptly, despite having sufficient evidence of the potential hazard.

In March 2022, Fitbit and the CPSC jointly issued a recall of the Ionic smartwatch. The recall cited at least 115 reports of overheating in the United States, including 78 cases involving burn injuries, four of which were second-degree burns and two third-degree burns. The settlement also requires Fitbit to enhance its internal compliance systems and submit annual reports on its adherence to safety standards.

The CPSC voted unanimously to approve the settlement, which obligates Fitbit to establish rigorous controls to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. These measures include improvements to its compliance program, internal audits, and training systems to prevent similar incidents in the future. The settlement remains subject to public comment before final approval.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

---