Ring Recalls Over 350,000 Video Doorbells After Units Burst Into Flames

Amazon-owned Ring is recalling hundreds of thousands of smart doorbells after multiple reports of the devices catching fire.

The recall affects approximately 350,000 Ring units sold in the United States and another 8,700 sold in Canada.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission notice, the recall affects the second generation Ring doorbell. Specifically, those units sold from June 2020 and October 2020.

The recall affects all Ring units sold at brick and mortar stores and online at Ring and Amazon.

According to the complaint, the video doorbell battery can overheat and possibly catch fire when incorrect screws are used during installation.

The company has received 85 reports of doorbells igniting, with 23 incidents resulting in minor property damage.

It also received eight reports that culminated in minor burns.

Affected Ring owners are instructed to contact the company, which will provide revised installation instructions. These instructions also can be downloaded online.

To find out if your Ring video doorbell is affected, you can enter your doorbell’s serial number on Ring’s website, here.

Ring is no stranger to controversy. Last year, the company announced that it was partnering with up to 1,300 police departments across the United States. This agreement would provide law enforcement with easier access to the surveillance videos recorded by the video doorbells.

Under the provision, police could submit requests to Ring when the video is needed to aid in an active investigation.

Ring and Amazon have faced criticism for the partnership with entities like the Electronic Frontier Foundation calling for the company to end this troubling relationship.