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The Galaxy Note7 was recalled after reports that its lithium-ion battery could overheat and catch fire. Samsung’s first recall did not end the danger: replacement phones also overheated, leading Samsung to halt sales and production and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall every Note7. Samsung later said investigations traced the incidents to batteries.
What happened to the Galaxy Note7?
The crisis unfolded in two recalls. The first covered about one million Note7 phones in the United States. After overheating incidents involving replacement devices, the recall was expanded to cover all Note7s, replacements included. Samsung stopped selling and manufacturing the phone, and U.S. authorities prohibited it from being carried, checked or shipped on passenger aircraft.
The CPSC described the hazard as follows: “The lithium-ion battery in the Galaxy Note7 smartphones can overheat and catch fire, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers.” CPSC initial recall notice
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| Date | What happened | Scope or effect |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2016 | The CPSC posted its initial U.S. recall notice. | About one million devices; consumers were directed to stop using and power down affected phones. The notice offered a refund or replacement at that time. CPSC initial recall notice |
| October 11, 2016 | After overheating incidents with replacement phones, Samsung decided to stop manufacturing and selling the Note7. | The decision is recorded in the background of the federal transportation order. Federal order |
| October 13, 2016 | The CPSC expanded the U.S. recall. | About 1.9 million devices, including the one million in the September recall; all Note7s, including replacement devices, were covered. Consumers were told to stop using and power down every Note7. CPSC expanded recall notice |
| October 15, 2016 | A U.S. federal air-transport prohibition took effect at noon EDT. | Note7 devices could not be carried, checked or shipped by air. Federal order |
| January 23, 2017 | Samsung announced the findings of its investigation and described additional safety processes. | Samsung said batteries caused the incidents and outlined measures it had implemented. Samsung announcement |
Why were replacement Note7 phones recalled too?
The first recall and replacement program did not resolve the problem. Overheating incidents were reported with replacement phones as well, so Samsung halted sales and manufacturing. The CPSC’s October 13 recall then included every Note7, not just the phones covered in September.
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The two CPSC notices give separate snapshots of reported incidents, not cumulative totals. Their categories and counts differ, so they should not be added together.
| Notice | Devices covered in the U.S. | Reported incidents in that notice |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2016 initial recall | About 1 million | 92 overheating reports, 26 burn reports and 55 property-damage reports. CPSC initial recall notice |
| October 13, 2016 expanded recall | About 1.9 million, including the million covered by the September recall | 96 overheating reports, 13 burn reports and 47 property-damage reports. CPSC expanded recall notice |
What did Samsung say caused the fires?
In its January 2017 announcement, Samsung said its investigation and investigations by three independent industry organizations—UL, Exponent and TÜV Rheinland—concluded that batteries caused the incidents. That establishes the battery-level cause, but the announcement is not the full technical investigation report. It does not provide enough detail to confidently explain each supplier’s specific battery defect, so claims about precise cell-by-cell mechanisms go beyond what this source establishes.
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Samsung described the response as including multi-layer safety measures, an 8-Point Battery Safety Check and an external Battery Advisory Group. These are measures Samsung said it implemented; its announcement is not an independent evaluation of their effectiveness. Samsung’s investigation announcement
What should owners do with a Note7 now?
The CPSC’s recall notices say to stop using and power down the device; the expanded notice applies that instruction to replacement phones too. Do not try to keep a Note7 in service with a replacement battery or accessory, and do not take one on an aircraft. The U.S. federal order prohibited carrying, checking or shipping Note7 devices by air.
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- Fully Unlocked: Fully unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US-Cellular, Cricket, Metro, etc.), both domestically and internationally.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charger and charging cable that may be generic.
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
The recall remedies and contact details in the 2016 notices describe the options available then; they do not confirm that those services remain available today. The cited notices document U.S. recalls and incident reports, not a consolidated global incident total.
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