Lawsuits and class actions have been filed against Apple by people who were injured or burned when their iPhone battery exploded or caught on fire.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting iPhone fire injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or burned by an iPhone battery fire, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
VIDEO: iPhone Battery Explodes Into Flames
iPhone 6 Battery Fire Class Action Lawsuit
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple by a man who claims that his iPhone 6 battery exploded and caught on fire in his hand, resulting in burn injuries to his eyes and wrist in 2019.
Apple fought to dismiss the iPhone lawsuit, but in June 2022, the judge overseeing the case determined that the allegations were plausible and allowed the class action to proceed.
The man, Robert F., accused Apple of tricking consumers into believing that the iPhone 6 batteries were top-of-the-line, when they were actually prone to explosions, battery fires, and burn injuries.
The lawsuit claims that in August 2019, he was listening to music on his iPhone 6 when the songs began to skip. When he picked up his phone to investigate, it exploded and caught on fire in his face.
He fell to the ground and “immediately felt a burning pain in his eyes and right wrist. … [He] suffered injuries to his eyes and wrist as a result of this incident.” These injuries continue to cause pain today.
The iPhone Battery Fire Lawsuit was filed on May 6, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Sherman Division) — Case Number 4:21-cv-00354-ALM.
Other iPhone Explosion Lawsuits End in Quiet Settlements
Here are 2 more examples of iPhone lawsuits that ended in confidential settlements just a few months after they were filed:
- August 2018 — A lawsuit was filed in South Carolina by a man who claims he was severely burned when his iPhone 6 battery exploded. The lawsuit was settled in December 2018.
- April 2020 — A lawsuit was filed by a man who suffered severe 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns and permanent scarring when his iPhone 6 exploded into flames while it was in his pocket. The lawsuit was settled in October 2020.
Should I Worry About My iPhone Catching on Fire?
iPhones should not get hotter than 113ºF (45 degrees C). If an iPhone gets too hot, or stays too hot, the internal hardware can be damaged. This can cause a battery fire. You might see a “Red Thermometer” icon on your iPhone lock screen, or a message saying your phone needs to cool down before you can use it.
Other Signs Your iPhone Battery Might Explode
- Bulge on the back of your iPhone
- Hissing noise coming from the battery area
- Phone gets very hot and does not cool down
- Smoke or gas coming out of a hole in the phone
What Causes iPhone Battery Fires?
Any time an iPhone explodes or catches on fire, the battery is usually to blame. Inside every iPhone is a lithium-ion battery. These batteries are lightweight and recharge quickly, making them ideal for phones.
The tradeoff is the risk of fires and explosion. Lithium batteries are fragile, with thin partitions between each battery cell. The outer covering is also thin and easy to puncture.
If the battery is damaged, it can short-circuit and catch on fire within seconds. Unlike a typical fire, a fire involving an iPhone battery is hotter and more explosive, like a bomb in a metal or plastic case.
How Hot Does a Burning iPhone Battery Get?
Lithium-ion batteries contain highly-flammable liquids and metal. They burn extremely hot — over 2,000ºC (or 3,632ºF) — which can instantly cause 3rd-degree burns, or cause nearby objects to catch on fire.
Burning Batteries Produce Extremely Toxic Gas
iPhone battery fires also generate considerable amounts of toxic gas and smoke. In some cases, the gas may be even more dangerous than the heat — especially in confined spaces, like an airplane or car.
Low-Quality Phone Chargers Can Cause iPhone Fires
iPhone battery fires can be caused by low-quality accessories. People commonly buy knockoff USB charging cables or 3rd-party wall power adaptors for recharging their iPhone. Instead of buying expensive official Apple products, they try to save money on knockoffs.
This can literally “backfire” when the defective accessory causes the iPhone battery to over-charge and catch on fire. These fires can be extremely dangerous — or deadly — when they occur in the middle of the night, next to a sleeping person’s pillow on their nightstand.
Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Catch on Fire
- Thermal runaway
- Overheating (external heat or fire)
- Damage (punctures, crushing etc.)
- Over-charging
- Electrical short-circuit
- Manufacturing errors
Do I have an iPhone Battery Fire Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting iPhone fire injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or burned by an iPhone battery fire, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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