Apple accused of stalling iPod battery fire investigation

***AppleInsider*** · 07-22-2009, 06:36 PM

Following up on numerous reports of iPod batteries catching fire, a Seattle reporter says that Apple actively prevented her and others from learning the true scope of the safety hazard.

KIRO 7's Amy Clancy claims that her seven-month search for data was repeatedly frustrated as Apple asked for Consumer Product Safety Commission reports to be exempted from the Freedom of Information Act, hiding them from public view.

The investigation began in November after one iPod shuffle owner was burned when the battery ignited during a run, burning her where the iPod was clipped on. The victim, Jamie Balderas, at the time said she had contact Apple and provided photos as evidence but was purportedly dismissed by an AppleCare agent as encountering an "isolated incident" and that access to proof of previous incidents wasn't an option. The mother of a child given a mild burn also says Apple phone representatives didn't appear responsive to the problem.

Clancy searched on her own but submitted the FIA request after discovering the already widespread reports of iPod battery fires, which among other responses had prompted a Japanese government investigation.

When she finally received the requested information, however, she was surprised at just how long Apple and the CPSC had been aware of problems: fires had been reported as long ago as 2005 and have been noted periodically ever since. The 800-page report had even already pinpointed the lithium-ion battery packs as the likely causes because of their occasional tendency to overheat, but despite the evidence, hadn't led to a mandatory recall. Commission officials had determined that the the scarcity of incidents -- just a handful compared to the 175 million iPods sold at the time -- had made the risk of any injury, let alone any serious injuries, "very low." It also believed that newer batteries weren't shown vulnerable to the same sort of overheating.

The iPod maker for its part has partly responded to such issues in the past, but not comprehensively. Although it began a voluntary replacement program last year for owners of first-generation iPod nanos, some of whose batteries were known to be defective, it hasn't given recourse to owners of other iPod models affected by the problem, whether Balderas or a Cincinnati woman who just in March sued Apple for negligence in the wake of a second-generation iPod touch fire exhibiting similar symptoms.

Apple hasn't responded to the reporter's assertions.

Quadra 610 · 07-22-2009, 07:17 PM

Pure FUD.

Robin Huber · 07-22-2009, 07:28 PM

Seattle . . . hmmmm.

wilco · 07-22-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

Pure FUD.

**JeffDM** · 07-22-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilco

I know you're playing your part as the forum contrarian, but as far as I've heard, it really is FUD. It works out to something like one in 11 million iPods might catch fire or hurt someone.

anantksundaram · 07-22-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I know you're playing your part as the forum contrarian, but.....

wilco a contrarian? You mean he never agrees with the topic/comment about which he is posting!?

Who would have thunk......

wilco · 07-22-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I know you're playing your part as the forum contrarian, but as far as I've heard, it really is FUD. It works out to something like one in 11 million iPods might catch fire or hurt someone.

The issue of whether or not Apple hampered the investigation is FUD?

jasenj1 · 07-22-2009, 08:38 PM

This story was on Slashdot already.

Summary: 15 incidents reported out of 175 million iPods sold.

I'll take those odds.

- Jasen.

wilco · 07-22-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

wilco a contrarian? You mean he never agrees with the topic/comment about which he is posting!?

Who would have thunk......

anantkswhatever with his nose up Apple's a--? Who would have...

**JeffDM** · 07-22-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilco

anantkswhatever with his nose up Apple's a--? Who would have...

Well, I think we've seen enough of your antics. Thanks for trying.

charlituna · 07-22-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilco

The issue of whether or not Apple hampered the investigation is FUD?

the reporter makes a lot of claims, but shows no proof that Apple did anything to stop the release of information.

so yeah.

Kibitzer · 07-22-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Well, I think we've seen enough of your antics. Thanks for trying.

Gee - first time I've been around when someone got the death sentence.

hillstones · 07-22-2009, 09:42 PM

A handful vs. 175 million sold. Holy cow! What a disturbing finding! I have had a 1st Gen, 2nd Gen, 4th Gen, 4th Gen Color, Classic 160 and now Classic 120. None of them have ever overheated. I skipped the 3rd Gen because those buttons across the top were just so lame. Gotta love the resale value of iPods!

MJ Web · 07-22-2009, 10:40 PM

Or mighty nice? Depends who and what you believe. Show me the proof.

Alphaman · 07-23-2009, 11:55 AM

Not just 15 out of 175 million, but over a 4 year period. That's the equivalent of winning the Florida lottery twice in a year!

Wow, "800 pages". Not "only 15 occurrences in 4 years", but "800 pages". Sounds more menacing, doesn't it?

What depths will wanna-be journalists sink to in order to meet their deadline? Oh, wait, I think this shows it...

**JeffDM** · 07-23-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphaman

Not just 15 out of 175 million, but over a 4 year period. That's the equivalent of winning the Florida lottery twice in a year!

Wow, "800 pages". Not "only 15 occurrences in 4 years", but "800 pages". Sounds more menacing, doesn't it?

What depths will wanna-be journalists sink to in order to meet their deadline? Oh, wait, I think this shows it...

That's the problem, any "proper" investigation is going to have some documentation. Make a big deal about the amount of paperwork and put in some innuendo that some sinister force is trying to obstruct the investigation. I would expect that any digging that turns up dry holes wouldn't be automatically released, otherwise you'll get something that looks like hit-and-run fear mongering like this.

Magic_Al · 07-23-2009, 12:24 PM

What kind of product testing is going to find a 1-in-11.6 million occurrence? You're only responsible for something you can reasonably foresee and act on. Who knows, change the design might cause a different unpredictable problem that occurs once per 5 million.

lopsided · 07-23-2009, 03:42 PM

This obsession with recalls and suing for every imperfection is ridiculous. Portable devices have batteries. Using a battery, just about any type of battery carries risk. Having a small number short and flame out is unfortunate, but it's part of the risk of daily life. There's no evidence of wide-spread failures, no major design or manufacturing flaw.

Far too often the press feeds these types of over-hyped cases. They take a handful of cases and boldly proclaim that we're all gonna die!!!!!! They get ratings, lawyers get rich and we get 10 pages of disclaimers about not using hair dryers while sleeping.

**JeffDM** · 07-25-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crankenstein

Not only do ipods explode and catch fire.... But they quit working after a couple of months!

Ooh, lies and FUD. Get a sense of perspective here. Less then two dozen burn out if 175 million. It's like you're viewing the world through a fisheye lens or you're the PR rep for a politician or the competition.

If on the off chance it quits working within the warranty, you can turn it in and get a new one. I have a five year old hard drive based iPod that still works, that's just the oldest, never had one die on me yet.

9secondko · 07-25-2009, 10:31 PM

An iPod caught fire. Bound to happen, no? What like 2 billion iPods out there, it makes sense to me.

None of the iPods I have owned have had any problems, nor to anyone I know.

Its the economy of scale.

you make enough and given the various situations they can be put in, you are bound to hear a report or two about something going wrong.

It happens to all kinds of manufactures on all kinds of products.

Of course the MS trolls on this board are going to hype this up and then turn around and staunchly defend Microsofts posted losses recently.

07-22-2009, 06:36 PM	#1
*AppleInsider* Kasper's Automated Slave Join Date: Nov 1997 Posts: 6,151	Apple accused of stalling iPod battery fire investigation Following up on numerous reports of iPod batteries catching fire, a Seattle reporter says that Apple actively prevented her and others from learning the true scope of the safety hazard. KIRO 7's Amy Clancy claims that her seven-month search for data was repeatedly frustrated as Apple asked for Consumer Product Safety Commission reports to be exempted from the Freedom of Information Act, hiding them from public view. The investigation began in November after one iPod shuffle owner was burned when the battery ignited during a run, burning her where the iPod was clipped on. The victim, Jamie Balderas, at the time said she had contact Apple and provided photos as evidence but was purportedly dismissed by an AppleCare agent as encountering an "isolated incident" and that access to proof of previous incidents wasn't an option. The mother of a child given a mild burn also says Apple phone representatives didn't appear responsive to the problem. Clancy searched on her own but submitted the FIA request after discovering the already widespread reports of iPod battery fires, which among other responses had prompted a Japanese government investigation. When she finally received the requested information, however, she was surprised at just how long Apple and the CPSC had been aware of problems: fires had been reported as long ago as 2005 and have been noted periodically ever since. The 800-page report had even already pinpointed the lithium-ion battery packs as the likely causes because of their occasional tendency to overheat, but despite the evidence, hadn't led to a mandatory recall. Commission officials had determined that the the scarcity of incidents -- just a handful compared to the 175 million iPods sold at the time -- had made the risk of any injury, let alone any serious injuries, "very low." It also believed that newer batteries weren't shown vulnerable to the same sort of overheating. The iPod maker for its part has partly responded to such issues in the past, but not comprehensively. Although it began a voluntary replacement program last year for owners of first-generation iPod nanos, some of whose batteries were known to be defective, it hasn't given recourse to owners of other iPod models affected by the problem, whether Balderas or a Cincinnati woman who just in March sued Apple for negligence in the wake of a second-generation iPod touch fire exhibiting similar symptoms. Apple hasn't responded to the reporter's assertions.

07-22-2009, 07:17 PM	#2
Quadra 610 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,055	Pure FUD. (Formerly LTD on Neowin.net) (currently *LTD* on Macrumors.com) Mac OS users have made a conscious technology choice and are therefore typically better informed than their peers. -- Paul Thurrott, winsupersite.com, December 06, 2004

07-22-2009, 10:40 PM	#14
MJ Web Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 134	Naughty, naughty? Or mighty nice? Depends who and what you believe. Show me the proof.

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07-22-2009, 07:28 PM	#3
Robin Huber Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 181	Seattle . . . hmmmm.

07-22-2009, 08:38 PM	#8
jasenj1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 404	This story was on Slashdot already. Summary: 15 incidents reported out of 175 million iPods sold. I'll take those odds. - Jasen.

07-22-2009, 09:42 PM	#13
hillstones Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 856	A handful vs. 175 million sold. Holy cow! What a disturbing finding! I have had a 1st Gen, 2nd Gen, 4th Gen, 4th Gen Color, Classic 160 and now Classic 120. None of them have ever overheated. I skipped the 3rd Gen because those buttons across the top were just so lame. Gotta love the resale value of iPods!

07-23-2009, 11:55 AM	#15
Alphaman Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2	Not just 15 out of 175 million, but over a 4 year period. That's the equivalent of winning the Florida lottery twice in a year! Wow, "800 pages". Not "only 15 occurrences in 4 years", but "800 pages". Sounds more menacing, doesn't it? What depths will wanna-be journalists sink to in order to meet their deadline? Oh, wait, I think this shows it...

07-23-2009, 12:24 PM	#17
Magic_Al Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 114	What kind of product testing is going to find a 1-in-11.6 million occurrence? You're only responsible for something you can reasonably foresee and act on. Who knows, change the design might cause a different unpredictable problem that occurs once per 5 million.

07-23-2009, 03:42 PM	#18
lopsided Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 12	This obsession with recalls and suing for every imperfection is ridiculous. Portable devices have batteries. Using a battery, just about any type of battery carries risk. Having a small number short and flame out is unfortunate, but it's part of the risk of daily life. There's no evidence of wide-spread failures, no major design or manufacturing flaw. Far too often the press feeds these types of over-hyped cases. They take a handful of cases and boldly proclaim that we're all gonna die!!!!!! They get ratings, lawyers get rich and we get 10 pages of disclaimers about not using hair dryers while sleeping.

07-25-2009, 10:31 PM	#20
9secondko Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 417	An iPod caught fire. Bound to happen, no? What like 2 billion iPods out there, it makes sense to me. None of the iPods I have owned have had any problems, nor to anyone I know. Its the economy of scale. you make enough and given the various situations they can be put in, you are bound to hear a report or two about something going wrong. It happens to all kinds of manufactures on all kinds of products. Of course the MS trolls on this board are going to hype this up and then turn around and staunchly defend Microsofts posted losses recently.

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