E-cigarette Recall

NBC Nightly News reported that there have been hundreds of incidents of e-cigarettes exploding and catching fire.  This figure does not include numerous incidents of loose e-cigarette lithium-ion batteries exploding in consumer’s pockets or purses.  It should be no surprise to consumers that big tobacco is behind many of the companies that are selling e-cigarette devices.  R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. is a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, which markets the Vuse brand of e-cigarettes.  The company has issued a nationwide e-cigarette safety recall of all of its Vuse Vibe vaporizers after receiving consumer reports that the batteries sold with the device malfunctioned and caused the device to overheat and create an explosion risk.

Reynolds says that all consumers who have Vuse Vibe vapor products should stop using the product and not charge it.  If you have been injured by such product, we recommend that you retain custody of the device and contact an experienced e-cigarette explosion attorney.  If you have not been injured by the Vuse Vibe, you may call the toll free number provided by Reynolds, 800-369-8200 or go to www.vusevapor.com/viberecall.   Reynolds deserves credit for recalling the Vuse Vibe after receiving consumer reports of overheating.   Most e-cigarette batteries that explode are manufactured in China, and there are no examples known to this author of an e-cigarette recall or lithium-ion battery recall initiated voluntarily by a Chinese company.

E-cigarette devices contain a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution (juice).  The power source for the heating element  is typically a lithium-ion battery.  Most e-cigarette batteries are made in China.  Some are actually batteries that were rejected by the original manufacturer as defective and subsequently acquired by another Chinese company that re-wrapped the defective battery with its own logo.  E-cigarette batteries are made to fit inside a cylindrical vaporizer.  They are made by rolling up a layer of metallic anode, a layer of a porous separator that holds a flammable liquid electrolyte and a layer of metallic cathode.  The roll is held together by welds.  Defective welding or debris from a negligent manufacturing process can cause burrs to pierce the separator or cause deflection of th eelctrodes and short circuit the battery.  This can result in thermal runaway and explosion even when the user is not activating the e-cigarette device.  Indeed, there are many examples of e-cigarettes or loose e-cigarette batteries exploding in side one’s pocket, even when there are no other metal objects in the pocket.

Unlike the batteries used in cell phones or computers, e-cigarette batteries are housed in a metal cylinder.  When these batteries overheat, build up thermal pressure and explode, the cylinder acts like a pipe bomb, propelling flames and metal contents like a flare.  Victims of these explosions have suffered terrible facial burns, eye injuries, mouth injuries, and leg, hand and genital burns requiring painful skin grafting.

Related Content:

• The Potential for E-Cig Battery Fires and Explosions on Passenger Flights
• Myths About E-Cigarette Explosions
• E-Cigarette Battery Explosion Lawsuit
• Juul Has a New Fight on Its Hands

Michael Phelan

Michael Phelan is a Virginia trial attorney who practices with a special focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, pharmaceutical and medical device claims, product liability cases, and truck accidents. Michael’s peers have consistently recognized him for his excellence as a trial lawyer, and his clients have praised him for his commitment to deep research, his outstanding communication skills, and his sincerity and dedication.