Apple Admits to Overheating iPods

iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 have been confirmed to pack a faulty battery which, in some cases, may spontaneously overheat or even burst into flames, as numerous users have reported. Apple has recently acknowledged the issue, and is actively addressing it for Japanese customers.

According to a report by CrunchGear, Apple has finally agreed to replace first-generation iPod nanos in the event of their overheating, after posting a Support article on its Japanese web site admitting to the issue.

Reportedly, pressure from the Japanese government prompted the Cupertino-based electronics company to step forward and address what is now labeled as a widespread issue with old-generation iPod nanos.

Apple took roughly five years to admit a problem that caused iPods to overheat and even burst into flames, following over fifty such reported incidents. According to the report in question, Japan's authorities were unhappy with Apple’s delay in addressing the problem.

The aforementioned Support document is available on many-language versions of Apple’s web site, but only in Japan does it show August 10 as the date it was last updated.

Although Apple is said to have agreed to replace the iPod nanos for affected customers, the document says only batteries will be replaced for those who have concerns about the battery and proceed to contact Apple Support.

Apple is notorious for waiting until an issue is clearly labeled as widespread before taking any serious action, although, in the case of burning iPod nanos, Apple’s delay in response is unacceptable.

In 2007, a Douglasville resident was in the news with a story about his faulty iPod nano. The person told reporters that his nano had caught fire in his pocked during work hours.

His job was in a kiosk in a Hartsville Jackson concourse where, this person said, the TSA could have easily mistaken him for a terrorist, as flames and smoke were coming out of his pocket.