Should There Be an AmazonBasics Charging Cord Fire Hazard Recall? 

AmazonBasics products, which are sold under the private label brand of the tech giant and retailer Amazon, include thousands of everyday items like household appliances, home goods, office accessories, and consumer electronics sold at a low cost. AmazonBasics launched in 2009, and has grown increasingly widespread since then. It now offers more than 5,000 products.

Unfortunately, the products may not just be spreading like wildfire—some AmazonBasics products, like the AmazonBasics charging cord, are literally going up in flames.

Is There a Fire Hazard with the AmazonBasics Charging Cable?

The AmazonBasics charging cord has reportedly been linked with a serious fire risk. Indeed, while Amazon’s reach in the retail market grows ever more extensive, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are also a growing number of reports of major safety issues with certain AmazonBasics products, including the AmazonBasics iPhone charging cable.

Since 2016, at least 1,500 reviews across more than 50 AmazonBasics electronics and appliances have reported serious safety hazards, according to an investigation conducted by CNN. Some consumers alleged that their items malfunctioned not after years of use, but the very first time they were plugged in. Other consumers said that their electronics were not even in use when they began malfunctioning.

Product reviews have described a slew of dangerous issues with these products, such as:

• Exploding
• Catching on fire
• Smoking
• Melting
• Causing electrical malfunctions
• More

Have Any Fires Been Reported?

Multiple fires have been reported in association with allegedly defective AmazonBasics products, including the AmazonBasics charging cable. In Jan. 2017, 20-year-old Austin Parra was hospitalized due to burns from a fire determined by Anthony Dignoti, the fire marshal in charge, to have been caused by Parra’s AmazonBasics charging cable for his phone. According to the fire marshal’s report, the cord experienced a short circuit. While he wrote that it was unclear why this happened to the charging cable, “the heat produced by the cord ignited the upholstery for the office chair,” he reported.

But Parra wasn’t the first user of this charging cable to experience an issue. Prior to the Jan. 2017 incident, other purchasers had already reported melting and smoking from the product in Amazon reviews. “DO NOT BUY! FIRE HAZARD!” wrote one customer, who said their cable became melted and warped in May 2016, even ruining their iPhone. “These should be taken off the market immediately!!!”

Has Any AmazonBasics Charging Cord Been Recalled?

While the AmazonBasics charging cable has not been recalled, Amazon has taken a number of products off the market after consumers reported dangers. A USB cable and a surge protector were taken down, for instance. But in the vast majority of these cases, no official recall was ever issued. Because Amazon is the sole distributor of AmazonBasics products, it can simply take the products off the market.

In fact, there have only been two official AmazonBasics recalls. In 2018, after the company had received 53 reports in the U.S. about power banks overheating, the company recalled the product and offered a refund, affecting about 260,000 units.

In 2019, after 25 reports of a space heater overheating, burning, or sparking, Amazon recalled the product, offering a refund. This recall affected about 377,000 units.

These two official recalls mark the only times that Amazon has ever publicly acknowledged any safety issues linked with its AmazonBasics label.

“Even as complaints have mounted,” CNN reported, “the company has provided little or no information to consumers or the public about how it is handling allegations that some of its merchandise is unsafe.”

What Can You Do About the AmazonBasics Charging Cable Safety Hazard?

The most important thing is safety. If you are worried about your AmazonBasics charging cord, either stop using it or avoid leaving it plugged in while you are not nearby to monitor it.

Several senators have come together to demand a recall of these kinds of reportedly dangerous AmazonBasics products.

If you purchased an AmazonBasics iPhone charging cable, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation. Parra, the young man whose charging cable allegedly sparked a fire on his computer chair, filed a lawsuit in 2019. According to the lawsuit, Parra suffered second-degree burns, as well as injuries to his throat from smoke inhalation. The case was quickly settled.

Amazon has been hit with more than 60 federal lawsuits over product liability issues within the last decade.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and pursue compensation.

Compensation may range from the price of the product itself to the cost of damage to property or even personal injuries suffered because of the defective products.

Free AmazonBasics Product Fire Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation

Did you purchase any of the following AmazonBasics products?

• Surge Protectors
• Charging Cables and Cords
• Kitchen Appliances

Product defect attorneys are currently seeking consumers nationwide—with an added emphasis on those in California, Illinois, New York, and Florida—who have purchased AmazonBasics products from the above-mentioned categories to join as potential plaintiffs on this case.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.