If you own an Ellipsis Jetpack 4G mobile hotspot from Verizon, watch out. The carrier is warning the device’s lithium ion battery can overheat, and pose a potential fire hazard.
Verizon issued a recall for the product on Thursday. The carrier is still determining the cause of the defect, but the US Consumer Protection Agency notes Verizon has received 15 reports of the device overheating. Six of those reports involved the mobile hotspot causing fire damage to bedding or flooring while two reports involved burn injuries to people.
“The safety of our customers is our highest priority,” Verizon said in a statement. “We are taking the situation very seriously, and we are working diligently to determine the cause of the issues with the supplier and to provide replacement devices for all of our customers, free of charge.”
The affected Ellipsis Jetpack units have the model names MHS900L, MHS900LS, and MHS900LPP. The US Consumer Protection Agency says the product recall involves 2.5 million devices, which were sold from April 2017 to March 2021 from $50 to $150.
However, a Verizon spokesperson tells us that only about 1 million devices are currently in use on the carrier's network. Nevertheless, some of the customers are schools, which loan the mobile hotspots out to students.
Verizon created a dedicated website, where customers can determine whether their hotspot is eligible for the recall. They can also call 855-205-2627. The carrier plans on replacing the defective units with an Orbic Speed 4G mobile hotspot.
If you still need to use the Ellipsis Jetpack before you can exchange it, Verizon released an over-the-air software update to mitigate the battery overheating problem. Specifically, the update will prevent the mobile hotspot from recharging while it’s plugged into an electrical outlet, and powered on. The software update should arrive automatically.
The carrier is also advising customers to keep the hotspot on a flat and sturdy surface when in use, and to place it in well ventilated areas.