iPod Explodes, Shoots Off Sparks for Minutes

We've often heard of Li-Ion batteries giving headaches to cell phone owners and mp 3 player users alike. Some stories actually claim devices started shooting off sparks spontaneously, without any outside interference, even inside a person's pocket. This story, however, is something else...

The Consumerist got hold of an iPod nano owner's complaint letter to Steve Jobs in regards to a malfunctioning iPod nano. "Dale's first-gen iPod Nano," according to the source, "was chugging power from his PC's USB port when suddenly he saw it 'explode open and start shooting sparks and spewing smoke'". It did so for minutes, as the disappointed nano owner stated. Some excerpts are available after the jump.

I am writing this in regards to an issue I have had with an iPod nano, first generation. I have included the relevant pictures of my iPod after this incident and links to related issues.

I had plugged the iPod in to charge on Saturday August 16, 2008. I was using the USB cable that came with the iPod and charging via the USB port on my PC. After being plugged in for somewhere between 5-10 minutes I heard a sizzling sound. I looked down on the iPod just in time to see it explode open and start shooting sparks and spewing smoke. I managed to unhook the iPod from my computer's USB port immediately.

I had noticed that a small fire had started on the table I had the laptop and the iPod sitting on, and I managed to extinguish those flames quickly before any apparent damage could be done to my laptop. Unlike in other cases, I've read about, my iPod continued to spew smoke and spit sparks while throwing out some kind of sooty substance from the inside of the iPod for several minutes after removing the cable from the computer. I moved the still spitting iPod from the table and placed it on a book case across the room. I noticed that while doing this, the iPod was still extraordinarily hot to the touch.

After calling up tech support, Dale was informed that Apple would replace his iPod regardless of the age of the device. However, knocking on his local Apple Store's door, he didn't quite get the answer he expected. The full article, along with Apple's response and more pictures of the exploded iPod, are available here.