Anker has expanded its global recall of certain Power Bank products after multiple incidents of fires and explosions. The recall, initially announced in June, has now been extended to include five additional models of the Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks, specifically the A1263 model.
This action follows reports of 19 cases where the portable chargers caught fire or exploded.
In addition to the earlier recall of the A1263 model, which started in June, and the A1642 model from October 2024, Anker has now included these additional affected products:
- Anker Power Bank 10000 Model A1257
- Anker Power Bank 20000 Model A1647
- Anker MagGo Power Bank 10000 Model A1652
- Anker Zolo Power Bank 20000 Model A1681
- Anker Zolo Power Bank 20000 Model A1689
The Consumer Products Safety Commission reported that over 1.1 million of these products were sold in the U.S. and are impacted by the recall. Anker is offering replacements or $30 gift cards for affected customers who provide photo proof of ownership and confirmation that they have disposed of the recalled devices properly.
In light of these issues, airlines have started to alter their policies regarding the charging of devices in carry-on bags. Southwest Airlines, for example, recently updated its regulations to address the hazards posed by these portable batteries. Some international airlines have also begun restricting the types of charging devices allowed on planes.
If you purchased any of the affected models between June 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, you can verify your product’s serial number on Anker’s official webpage. Be mindful of specific letters and numbers when checking, as certain characters like ‘1’, ‘L’, ‘I’, ‘2’, and ‘Z’ are used, while ‘O’ and ‘I’ are excluded. If your device is listed in the recall, Anker advises that you stop using it immediately and follow the steps to request a replacement or gift card.
Anker also recommends taking your power bank to a local hazardous waste center for proper disposal, as opposed to throwing it in the trash or using standard recycling services. For further inquiries, customers can contact Anker at support@anker.com with the subject line ‘Anker Recall’ or call their customer service at 800-988-7973.