Amazon[1]'s Ring subsidiary is recalling 350,000 Ring doorbells following reports that the devices may be a fire hazard.
According to a recall notice[2] posted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on November 10, the second generation of Ring doorbells, model number 5UM5E5, is at the heart of the problem.
Ring doorbells sold between June 2020 through October 2020 appear to have a battery issue, in which they overheat "when the incorrect screws are used for installation, posing fire and burn hazards."
See also: FBI warned of how Ring doorbell surveillance can be used against police officers[3]
The devices were sold on Amazon.com, Ring.com, and at stores nationwide. In total, approximately 350,000 potentially faulty devices were purchased during this period, as well as roughly 8,700 Ring doorbells in Canada.
In total, Ring has received 85 reports of doorbells installed using the wrong screws, with 23 then igniting as a result, leading to "minor" property damage. In addition, eight reports of "minor burns" have been received by the company.
CNET: Ex-Microsoft engineer gets 9-year prison sentence for fraud scheme[4]
Customers concerned that their product may be a fire hazard can type in their doorbell's serial number over at Ring[5] to see if they are impacted. If the check reveals a faulty device, users should check the installation guide[6] or contact Ring for further instructions. The company has contacted known customers to check the installation guides have been followed properly.
A Ring spokesperson told ZDNet:
"The safety of our customers is our top priority. We have and continue to work cooperatively with the CPSC on this issue, and have contacted customers who purchased a Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) to ensure