SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20250716-2E6F9-2147329549. Severity: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received. Product: Iphone 12 Pro Max A2342 (Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone device with a 6.7-inch display, originally purchased as a new (non-refurbished) unit. Battery was replaced on June 30, 2025, by [REDACTED] (Georgetown, TX), which is an Apple-authorized service provider. Color: Black. The product exploded while idle, emitting smoke and causing a fire response.). Incident: On July 3rd, 2025, at approximately 7:00 PM, my iPhone 12 Pro Max exploded while sitting idle on a piece of gym equipment at [REDACTED] in Austin, TX. The phone had undergone a battery replacement on June 30, 2025, at [REDACTED] in Georgetown, TX, through their [REDACTED] repair service, which is an Apple-authorized provider. The phone was not charging, in use, or being touched at the time. It spontaneously emitted thick smoke and began to combust. The incident caused panic and led to the evacuation of the gym. The fire department was called, and the facility shut down for the remainder of the day. While no one was physically injured, the situation created a public safety hazard and could have easily resulted in burns, smoke inhalation, or worse had anyone been closer to the device. I am now dealing with potential fallout from [REDACTED] or their insurer and am seeking accountability from [REDACTED] and Apple. I am submitting this report to alert the CPSC of the serious risks posed by faulty lithium-ion battery replacements performed through authorized channels.