iPod Nano recall over fire risk

First generation iPod Nanos have been recalled by Apple over fears that their batteries can catch fire - with the firm also offering a free replacement.

Apple said on Wednesday night that the first generation iPod Nano, which was sold between September 2005 and December 2006, would need to be recalled due to a battery fault.

Apple devices have caused trouble before, with a reported six iPods catching fire in Japan last year leaving four people with minor burns.

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Those eligible for a replacement iPod Nano wouldn’t be able to get their hands latest model, which comes complete with a touchscreen, an FM radio and a pedometer – a huge upgrade from the oldest model which was launched six years ago.

Apple customer services confirmed affected customers would get a replacement of their current model rather than the newest version.

According to Apple, the replacement iPod Nano will take approximately six weeks to arrive.

Apple released a statement confirming the emergency recall. It said: “Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod Nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod Nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.

“This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.”

Apple has instructed customers to go to the iPod Nano (1st generation) Replacement Programme support page, to confirm if their model is eligible for the recall.

To see if you are eligible for a free replacement click here.