Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 1 hr ago
Lithium battery recalls in Australia rose 280% in four years
In Australia, lithium-ion battery recalls rose 280% in four years, according to data from Product Safety Australia and the ACCC.
They now account for 7.6% of all product recalls, up from 1.7% in 2022.
The risks affect everyday items including phones, power banks, lamps and baby monitors, as well as home battery systems.
Battery failures can start fires that are difficult to extinguish and can cause property damage and serious injuries.
The government is encouraging households to adopt home batteries through its Cheaper Home Batteries scheme, whose budget was tripled after demand exceeded expectations.
Tesla said some Powerwall 2 systems with cells from a third-party supplier could overheat; it remotely discharged affected units and says it will replace them at no cost.
Affected Powerwall 2 units are due to be replaced, while Tesla says it will consider compensation for lost energy savings case by case.
Lithium-ion battery recalls in Australia rose 280% over four years, according to data from Product Safety Australia and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
They accounted for 7.6% of all product recalls, up from 1.7% in 2022.
The article says fire risks are appearing in products ranging from power tools and home battery systems to devices used in nurseries.
Tesla said some Powerwall 2 systems had battery cells that could fail and overheat, and that affected units would be replaced at no cost.
A personal injury lawyer warned that battery fires can cause serious property damage, burns and psychological injuries.
- Who
- Product Safety Australia and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported the recall data. The article also discusses Tesla and warnings from personal injury lawyer Manny Carbone.
- What
- Lithium-ion battery recalls in Australia rose 280% over four years. They made up 7.6% of product recalls, compared with 1.7% in 2022.
- When
- Over the four years covered by the data; the article was published on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- The article links the rise to fire hazards involving lithium-ion batteries. It does not state a specific cause for the increase in recalls.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lithium-ion batteries accounted for 1.7% of all product recalls.
Lithium battery recalls rose 280%, and their share of all recalls reached 7.6%.
Tesla identified some Powerwall 2 systems with third-party battery cells that could fail and overheat, and remotely discharged affected batteries after notifying customers.
Tesla’s recall notice was updated; the article does not specify the year.
- Recall increase
- 280% over four years
- Share of recalls
- 7.6%, up from 1.7% in 2022
- Affected product
- A subset of Tesla Powerwall 2 systems
- Replacement
- Tesla said affected units would be replaced at no cost
What people are saying
too generous
Tesla has received reports of Powerwall 2 units with the affected battery cells smoking or emitting flames, resulting in minor property damage.
We have seen a significant increase in claims involving lithium-ion batteries in everyday household products, including mobile phones, portable chargers and lamps and, alarmingly, even devices used in babies’ rooms, such as monitors.
These fires are particularly dangerous because the chemical reaction can make the initial flames extremely difficult, if not impossible, to extinguish.