An alarming leap in powerbank recalls has prompted a fresh warning for consumers about their potentially life-threatening dangers.
The consumer watchdog said on Tuesday that it had published nine recalls for the portable devices in the past 16 months, bringing the total since 2020 to 17.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has also revealed it is most concerned about eight models of the potentially faulty batteries. It warned that about 34,000 powerbanks that should have been returned to their place of purchase were still in use across the country.
“Some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and some have had their property damaged because of powerbanks overheating and catching fire,” deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
“Most incidents have occurred when the powerbank is charging a phone or other device, which makes it more likely that they will be close to the user when they fail, increasing the likelihood of injuries.”
The alarm comes after numerous airlines cracked down on carriage and use of the devices, due to concerns about the possible role of lithium-ion battery fires in deadly plane disasters. Many airlines ban use and even charging of powerbanks in-flight, and they must usually be carried in cabin bags rather than in checked luggage.
In Australia, authorities warn the batteries, which have become increasingly popular for charging a plethora of devices, “have become a leading fire hazard, posing serious risks in homes, workplaces, and waste facilities”.
Fire and Rescue NSW sounded a fresh alarm in February when it had already attended 25 lithium-ion-related fires in 2025. They included 13 incidents in the days from February 2-10 – including four in one 12-hour period.
FRNSW said a NSW government survey had highlighted a high-degree of community complacency around the risks of using lithium-ion battery products.
The Department of Customer Service survey found that while 44 per cent of people understood the products could be dangerous, “risky behaviours” were still common when people charged portable devices. They included:
- 73 per cent of people charging devices while unattended
- 70 per cent charging batteries near living spaces or exits
- 64 per cent leaving devices plugged in after charging
- 51 per cent using low-quality chargers or batteries
“We had at least 318 lithium-ion battery fires in NSW [in 2024]; that’s well up on the 272 of 2023 and 165 of 2022. We know they are on the rise, but people are still taking dangerous risks in their homes,” FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said.
“Lithium-ion fires are happening to households almost every day.
“We had two people die in such a fire last year, we had a family of seven narrowly escape a lithium-related blaze that destroyed their home at Penshurst [in January] and we had to rescue three residents and a dog from a high-rise e-bike fire at Merrylands West around the same time.”
The ACCC has warned that anyone using powerbanks must follow manufacturer’s instructions, and should take care to store the devices correctly.
“It’s important that people use the correct charger to charge their powerbank and check that it is in good condition,” Lowe said.
“We urge consumers not to charge powerbanks on flammable materials such as beds, sofas or carpet, and to never use powerbanks that are damaged, overheating, swelling, leaking or venting gas.”
“Setting timers as a reminder to unplug devices may help monitor device charging times, as it’s important to disconnect products from chargers when they are fully charged.”
The ACCC urged anyone who owned a recalled powerbank to stop using it immediately and follow the instructions on the recall notice for its return and a reimbursement.
“Consumers who own a recalled powerbank shouldn’t be concerned about being left out of pocket. Suppliers are offering a full refund or free replacement under these recalls,” Lowe said.
Check if your powerbank is subject to a recall at the ACCC Product Safety website.
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