August 4, 2016 — The Basis Peak fitness-tracking watch has been recalled after reports of blisters and burns caused by it overheating.
The issue has been traced to its best feature — an active LED on the back of the watch. It monitors heart-rate continuously, unlike most other watches. Unfortunately, it appears to cause blisters and burns.
Only 0.2% of watches are causing the problem, but Basis has recalled every watch and asked users to stop using them immediately.
A spokesman for the company said a software update failed to fix the problem because it was impossible to decrease the power of the LED without “completely compromising the user experience.”
Basis has offered a refund for the full retail price of the watch, plus authorized accessories like the cradle or strap. The Titanium sold for $344 and the Peak sold for $234.
Users have until the end of the year to access their information. The company has stopped providing support. On December 31, the company will shut down the service and users will not be able to retrieve their data, log on, or sync the device online.
This is not the first time a fitness watch has been recalled for causing skin reactions. In 2013, over 1 million Fitbit Force wristbands were recalled after 10,000 users reported redness, rashes, and blisters.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
