JBL stereo and hi-fi equipment

26 reports to CPSC, the latest made Oct 11, 2026. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Nov 5, 2026.

26reports to CPSC
Oct 11, 2026the latest report was made
Apr 11, 2019the earliest
25with the company’s comments

Brand: JBL
Maker: Harman International Industries, IncroporatedMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: Stereo and hi-fi equipmentCPSC’s product type: Stereo or Hi-fi Components or Accessories (code 546), in Electronics: Audio & Radio

By month

5 reports from November 2025 to October 2026; the most in September 2026, 2. 21 earlier reports, since April 2019, are in the table.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
October 2026	1
September 2026	2
May 2026	1
February 2026	1
September 2025	1
August 2025	2
July 2025	1
January 2025	1
November 2024	1
October 2024	1
April 2023	1
February 2023	2
April 2022	1
March 2022	1
February 2022	1
June 2021	1
April 2021	1
March 2021	2
September 2020	1
February 2020	1
June 2019	1
April 2019	1

How badly anyone was hurt

Seen by a doctor or nurse 1 CPSC: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
Hurt, no treatment 3 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
No one hurt 16 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
No incident, no one hurt 5 CPSC: No Incident, No Injury

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

No one hurt
Made Oct 11, 2026, sent to the company Oct 14, 2026, published by CPSC Nov 4, 2026

The product, in the report: jbl speaker camoflaugh

I had plugged the jbl into the wall and it spontaneous combust.

Where
Homestead, Montana: Other Public Property/Office
Who was involved
Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand Jbl, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(10/28/2026) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable regulatory and industry standards and requirements. The Product also contains numerous protective features and systems, including but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, discharge temperature protection, battery low-voltage charge protection, charge timeout protection, over discharge voltage protection, over discharge current protection, short protection, and over charge voltage protection. Additionally, Harman uses fire-retardant materials in connection with the Product. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20261011-48A8E-2147308005. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Sep 20, 2026, sent to the company Sep 22, 2026, published by CPSC Oct 6, 2026

The product, in the report: Jbl flip 5. Black and grey camo.

JBL flip 5. Exploded and burst into flames in the middle of the night. It was sitting on a night stand getting charged with a JBL cord it came with and a [REDACTED] outlet plug. Luckily no injuries. It was 1 foot from his head in bed. He got up dure to the fire alarm going off and it exploded 1-2 minutes after he got out of bed. Burnt the wall, nightstand, hat next to it on the bed and the sheets.

Model
Flip 5
Where
Peoria, Arizona: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 14, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
My Child
As this report names them
Brand Jbl, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(10/5/2026) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable regulatory and industry safety standards and requirements. The product also contains numerous protective features and systems, including but not limited to, over-voltage charge protection, over-current charge protection, charge temperature control, low-voltage charge protection, charge timeout (cutoff), over-discharge voltage protection, and over-discharge current protection. Additionally, Harman uses fire-retardant materials in connection with the product. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20260920-EFD6B-2147309542. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No incident, no one hurt
Made Sep 14, 2026, sent to the company Sep 17, 2026, published by CPSC Oct 3, 2026

The product, in the report: JBL Flip 5 speaker

My JBL Flip 5 speaker exploded twice on 08/15/2026 while it was charging next to me. Fortunately, although I was sitting next to it, I was not injured. The speaker was on the floor and the flames from the initial explosion were directed upward. Luckily, I was still awake at the time, around [REDACTED], and was able to move the speaker outside to my patio, where a second explosion and fire occurred. Had I been asleep, I believe there could have been a serious risk of a house fire. Fortunately, I was also not injured by the second explosion while moving the speaker outside. The main damage was to my laptop, which was on my lap when the first explosion occurred. When the speaker exploded, I instinctively jumped out of the chair and the laptop was thrown to the floor. I am attaching a video showing the second explosion/fire, along with photos of the speaker and resulting damage, for your records. This was obviously a very serious safety incident, and I would appreciate your instructions on how to proceed.

Model
JBL Flip 5
UPC
CS0314-HL008942
Serial number
CS0314-HL0089420
Bought from
Problably at Amazon
Where
Boca Raton, Florida: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 63, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
No Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(10/1/2026) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable regulatory and industry safety standards and requirements. The product also contains numerous protective features and systems, including but not limited to, over-voltage charge protection, over-current charge protection, charge temperature control, low-voltage charge protection, charge timeout (cutoff), over-discharge voltage protection, and over-discharge current protection. Additionally, Harman uses fire-retardant materials in connection with the product. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20260914-AA409-2147309981. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made May 1, 2026, sent to the company May 6, 2026, published by CPSC May 20, 2026

The product, in the report: JBL Bar 2.1. 2.1 channel soundbar with wireless subwoofer.

My wife and I were in bed when my wife smelled smoke. She woke me and we traced the smoke to a JBL 2.1 bass soundbar subwoofer located in the corner of our living room, behind the wedge part of our sectional sofa. The subwoofer was not in use at the time (but it had been earlier in the evening) and had visible smoke coming from the bass tube located on the side of the subwoofer. I grabbed the subwoofer to unplug it and the bass speaker, which is located on the underside of the subwoofer box, was vibrating in and out extremely fast. I took the entire speaker box to the garage and pulled the bass speaker to see if there was an active fire or only smoldering. Luckily, the unit was only smoldering. The speaker magnet was extremely hot to the touch, checked at 139 degrees Fahrenheit with a digital temperature gun. The coil that drives the speaker was also discolored from the heat. There is no doubt that the speaker would have caught fire very soon if not found at that time. As a side note, there was a power outage from a storm the night before. Could it have caused an issue with the speaker? I have several videos from my wife and son that shows much of the above event.

Model
Bar 2.1
Serial number
TL0551-FJ0089394
Bought from
ABC Warehouse
Bought
Jun 1, 2022, about then
Where
Lima, Ohio: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 26, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
My Child
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(5/14/2026) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the JBL Bar 2.1 products have passed robust quality control and safety testing and comply with all applicable industry standards. These products include multiple safety measures to reduce fire risk and ensure they fail safely if a malfunction occurs. Additionally, Harman uses fire-retardant materials in connection with these products. From a review of all of the information provided to date, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20260501-412B2-2147319878. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No incident, no one hurt
Made Feb 1, 2026, sent to the company Feb 3, 2026, published by CPSC Feb 18, 2026

The product, in the report: Orange JBL speaker pill blew up while unattended

Product, JBL speaker, blew up while in attended .

Model
JBL 3
Where
Hollywood, Florida: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 31, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
No Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(2/10/2026) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the report identifies the product as a “JBL 3” speaker, which does not correspond to a specific Harman product model. Harman understands this reference may relate to either the JBL Charge 3 or JBL Flip 3 product. Harman notes that both the JBL Charge 3 and JBL Flip 3 products have passed robust quality control and safety testing and comply with all applicable industry standards. These products incorporate multiple protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack, including, but not limited to, over-current charge protection, charge temperature protection, and charge timeout protection. Additionally, Harman uses fire-retardant materials in connection with these products. Because Harman takes all reports seriously, Harman has reviewed its internal records and, to date, has not identified any prior record associated with this report. Harman has not yet been contacted by the consumer identified in the report and has therefore not had the opportunity to communicate with the consumer or retrieve the subject unit for engineering analysis. Harman stands ready to retrieve and evaluate the product should the unit become available. Based on the information presently available, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20260201-13832-2147323985. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Hurt, no treatment
Made Sep 11, 2025, sent to the company Sep 16, 2025, published by CPSC Sep 30, 2025

The product, in the report: JBL Charge 5, Blue, 3.67 x 8.7 x 3.76 inches, 2.1lbs

Speaker was charging normally, then a small stream of white smoke started coming out, I then unplugged the usb-c charging cable, took the speaker outside, speaker started smoking more, more smoke, then it erupted in flames, after about 5 minutes I doused it with water.

Model
Charge5J
UPC
050036380225
Serial number
215-JCD101
Bought from
NewEgg
Bought
Mar 6, 2022
Where
NEOSHO, Missouri: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 52, Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
My Spouse
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

The company’s comments, in its own words

(9/29/2025) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The product also contains numerous protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack, including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, discharge temperature protection, battery low-voltage protection, over discharge voltage protection, and charge timeout protection. Additionally, Harman uses UL-approved, V-0 rated fire-retardant materials in connection with the Product. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, it has made efforts to retrieve the subject unit so that it may conduct an engineering analysis. However, from a review of all of the information provided to date, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20250911-F28F0-2147327909. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Aug 7, 2025, sent to the company Aug 12, 2025, published by CPSC Sep 3, 2025

The product, in the report: The speaker appears to be a JBL FLIP 7 portable waterproof and drop-proof speaker.

Homeowner was awakened by a loud pop. When she looked around, the [REDACTED] speaker had fallen from the nightstand onto the carpeted floor. The speaker was smoking. It had melted the carpet fiber underneath where it was laying. She carried it outside to the driveway where it appeared to go into thermal runaway. She said it spit fire (sparks) out the end, similar to a roman candle. Once it quit spitting out fire, it continued to smoke and smolder. She grabbed the garden hose, but instead of spraying water directly onto the device, she let the water run down the driveway. The speaker sets on the homeowner’s nightstand, plugged into a charging tower.

Where
Casper, Wyoming: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(8/26/2025) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The product also contains numerous protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack, including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, discharge temperature protection, battery low-voltage charge protection, charge timeout protection, over discharge voltage protection, over discharge current protection, short protection, and over charge voltage protection. Additionally, Harman uses UL-approved, V-0 rated fire-retardant materials in connection with both the product’s main housing and battery cover. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, Harman is in the process of retrieving the unit that is the subject of this report in order to perform an engineering analysis. From a review of all available information, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20250807-2FC25-2147328849. Submitter: Local Government Agency Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Aug 7, 2025, sent to the company Aug 11, 2025, published by CPSC Sep 9, 2025

The product, in the report: JBL over-ear headphones,

Headphones that were charged overnight have had the charger melt into the earpiece.

Bought from
Amazon website
Where
United States: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(8/26/2025) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The product also incorporates numerous protective features and systems. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20250807-B6FA7-2147328853. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Jul 13, 2025, sent to the company Jul 15, 2025, published by CPSC Jul 29, 2025

The product, in the report: Jbl charge 6 speaker, portable

I purchased a JBL Charge 6 speaker from the Navy Exchange (NEX) on May 19, 2025. While charging the speaker using a USB-C charger, the charging port overheated and melted, causing the cable tip to fuse inside the port. I smelled burning plastic, and the outer port area is blackened and warped.
I immediately unplugged it. Thankfully, I was home when it happened on July 13, 2025. This could have easily led to a fire. The speaker is only 2 months old and has worked normally until now.
I am reporting this as a potential fire hazard and safety concern. I can submit photos of the damaged port and receipt. Please investigate and determine if others have experienced this.

Model
Charge 6
UPC
50036 40746
Serial number
TT0172-AP0033855
Bought from
Navy Exchange
Bought
May 19, 2025
Where
Navarre, Florida: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Unknown
The reporter’s relation to them
My Spouse
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

CPSC report 20250713-45F3D-2147329633. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No incident, no one hurt
Made Jan 3, 2025, sent to the company Jan 13, 2025, published by CPSC Jan 28, 2025

The product, in the report: The product is a JBL FLIP6 Portable Waterproof Speaker, color: black. The speaker is cylindrical in shape, approximately 7 inches in length and 2.6 inches in diameter. It is designed for portable use and includes [REDACTED] connectivity for wireless audio playback. The speaker is waterproof and intended for both indoor and outdoor use. *I attached a video and receipt. Hopefully they are viewable. The other pictures say the type is not supported. I can email them if needed.

What happened that made you want to report? This morning, my JBL FLIP6 speaker exploded while sitting on a shelf in my garage. The incident caused damage to personal items and could have resulted in injury if it had occurred inside my home or near people.
What type of product(s) were being used? A JBL FLIP6 Portable Waterproof Speaker.
Who was using the product(s)? The speaker was not actively being used by anyone at the time of the explosion. It was stationary on a shelf in the garage.
How were the product(s) being used? The speaker was not in use and was not connected to a power source. It was being stored on a shelf in the garage.
Were there any injuries that happened or may have happened while using the product? Thankfully, there were no injuries as the explosion occurred in an unoccupied garage. However, the potential for injury was significant.
How did any injuries occur? No injuries occurred, but the explosion resulted in damage to two work vests and a jacket that were stored hanging on the shelving unit.

Model
JBLFLIP6BLKAM
UPC
not available
Serial number
not available
Bought from
Best Buy
Bought
Aug 19, 2022
Where
Columbia, South Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 44, Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
No Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(1/27/2025) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The product also contains numerous protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack, including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, discharge temperature protection, battery low-voltage charge protection, charge timeout protection, over discharge voltage protection, over discharge current protection, short protection, and over charge voltage protection. Additionally, Harman uses UL-approved, V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with both the product’s main housing and battery cover. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, Harman attempted to retrieve the unit that is the subject of this report in order to perform an engineering analysis. However, Harman was notified that the customer had discarded the unit. From a review of all available information, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20250103-E7482-2147334172. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No incident, no one hurt
Made Nov 22, 2024, sent to the company Nov 26, 2024, published by CPSC Dec 11, 2024

The product, in the report: JBL CBT1000 speakers and mounting hareware which is included with the speakers.

We purchased 2 JBL CBT1000 speakers for $5000 in July 2024 and installed them Aug 26 2024. We followed the JBL (Parent company: Harman International) Installation Guide to the letter. However, after installation we noticed that the tilt/swivel mechanism design was faulty. Rather than tilting the speaker down as intended, it tilted inward. After analyzing the situation, we discovered that the mounting bracket tilt mechanism was designed such that it is on the wrong side of the swivel mechanism and that it cant be corrected simply by reversing the bracket because the bolt patterns are different on each side of the mounting bracket. I contacted JBL the manufacture, and Harman International, the parent company of JBL to request help in correcting the faulty (in correcting designed) bracket. No one was willing to correct the faulty bracket, even claiming that it wasnt designed to do what we wanted it to do even though it was clearly stated in the Installation guide that it was indeed supposed to do exactly what we intended it to do. In addition the speaker bracket as designed is a safety hazard because if you try to tilt the speaker as intended it will put undo stress on the bracket to the point it could break thereby allowing the 60lbs speaker to fall to the ground possibly injuring or even killing an innocent bystander that happened to be standing or sitting under or near the speaker.

Model
JBL CBY1000 Speaker
Serial number
Will have to climb up on latter to see it
Bought from
Sweetwater
Bought
Jul 17, 2024, about then
Where
Granite Bay, California: Other Public Property/Office
Who was involved
Age 75, Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
No Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(12/11/2024) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20241122-03C2A-2147335094. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Seen by a doctor or nurse
Made Oct 31, 2024, sent to the company Nov 6, 2024, published by CPSC Nov 21, 2024

The product, in the report: JBL Charge 5 Portable Wi Fi Speaker. Black, 8.7” x 3.8” x 3.7”, waterproof, dustproof, 20 hrs playtime

JBL Charge 5 Portable Wi Fi Speaker spontaneously combusted while resting on dry granite kitchen island. Product was not in use, nor was it being charged, at the time it exploded and caught fire, sending shrapnel across the room.
Product/Home Owner was able to extinguish the 16” flames and quickly begin ventilating the home before arrival of the Fire Department. The explosion caused burn damage to hardwood floor, rug, counters and cabinets; acrid smoke filled the greatroom and heavy soot was deposited throughout the home.
Owner has consulted with medical providers regarding irritated respiratory system following the incident, possibly from smoke inhalation. Fortunately other injuries, eg, burns, were avoided, but could have been quite severe if the fire had been worse or the speaker further ignited during or after efforts to extinguish the device.
Harman International (product manufacturer) has indicated their concern about the incident, indicating to Owner that safety incidents such as this are isolated and taken very seriously. Harman explained to Owner the process that will be undertaken by their in-house Quality Lab, including root cause analysis and determination of any additional steps that should be taken to prevent recurrence of such a dangerous safety hazard.
To date, Harman and Owner are cooperating on next steps regarding problem determination and reimbursement for damages.

Model
Charge 5 Portable Wi-Fi
UPC
Unknown
Serial number
Destroyed. Receipt says: 2316324 2100003117397
Bought from
Costco, Wilmington, NC
Bought
Sep 19, 2023
Where
Hampstead, North Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 63, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

The company’s comments, in its own words

(11/21/2024) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The Product also contains numerous protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack, including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, discharge temperature protection, battery low-voltage protection, over discharge voltage protection, and charge timeout protection. Additionally, Harman uses UL-approved, V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with the Product. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, Harman has retrieved the unit that is the subject of this report and will perform an engineering analysis. However, from a review of all of the information provided to date, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20241031-D83D7-2147335619. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Apr 28, 2023, sent to the company May 4, 2023, published by CPSC May 18, 2023

The product, in the report: JBL Charge 3 (blue), from approx 2016

Hi! I recently had a JBL Charge 3 speaker burst into smoke and flames on my sofa during the middle of the night. Apparently these speakers “blowing up” is very common, which can be pretty easily searched online.
They now want me to send the speaker back to them in the mail but it seems odd to do so? Like it just nearly set my house on fire and has a visible pool of battery acid in it. Is this… okay?
Not sure if there has been any recall or warning for this product or similar.

Model
Charge 3
Where
Bay City, Michigan: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 22, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
My Friend / Neighbor / Co-worker
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(5/23/2023) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The Product contains multiple protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack, including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, and charge timeout protection. Additionally, Harman uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with the Product. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20230428-44447-2147347808. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Feb 16, 2023, sent to the company Mar 8, 2023, published by CPSC Mar 22, 2023

The product, in the report: JBL Soundbar w/wireless subwoofer model JBLSH JBLBAR21BLKAM 2.1

One afternoon we could smell something in the house that wasn’t normal. I inspected every room in the house looking for the source. When I got to our living room there was an odor that smelled like hot wires. After inspecting the television I found the source of the odor to be the subwoofer of our sound system. When I touched the speaker I found the case to be very hot to the touch. After unplugging the power cord I removed the speaker from the house.

Serial number
HBAR21BK-00517 SUB
Bought from
Nebraska Furniture Mart, Nebraska
Bought
Nov 23, 2018
Where
La Vista, Nebraska: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 75, Unknown
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(3/22/2023) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Inc. appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Please note that the customer did not contact Harman about this matter prior to Harman receiving this 6A report on March 8, 2023. Since receiving this report, Harman has reached out to the consumer to obtain the subject unit and he has agreed to return the subject unit for testing. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. From a review of the information provided, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20230216-AD30A-2147349670. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Hurt, no treatment
Made Feb 14, 2023, sent to the company Feb 17, 2023, published by CPSC Mar 6, 2023

The product, in the report: JBL Charge 3

JBL Charge 3 was being charged, it exploded, filled room with smoke, scorched paperwork, we were lucky to be home. The smoke was white and thick and difficult to remove. Not sure what we have breathed it so far. Pets as well

Model
Charge 3
Bought from
Amazon
Bought
Dec 17, 2017
Where
Evington, Virginia: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 46, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

The company’s comments, in its own words

(3/1/2023) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. The Product contains multiple protective features and systems on both the main board and battery pack. Additionally, Harman uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with the Product. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20230214-8E4F9-2147350708. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Hurt, no treatment
Made Apr 16, 2022, sent to the company Apr 21, 2022, published by CPSC May 5, 2022

The product, in the report: JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Bundle with divvi! Protective Hardshell Case - Blue

I have a JBL Flip 5. I plugged it in to charge and several hours later the plug had melted at the speaker connection on both the speaker and the USB cable. The speaker was very hot and I burned my finger when I touched it. If I had not found it when I did, it probably would have started a fire.

Model
Flip 5
Serial number
TT0002-LK0167455
Bought from
Amazon
Bought
Dec 29, 2021
Where
Lawrenceville, Georgia: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 65, Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

The company’s comments, in its own words

(5/3/2022) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable regulatory and industry safety standards and requirements, including but not limited to, those related to the charging port. Additionally, the accompanying USB cables and connectors are made with HB-rated fire retardant materials. Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20220416-64BAC-2147356820. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Mar 9, 2022, sent to the company May 3, 2022, published by CPSC May 17, 2022

The product, in the report: Bluetooth Speaker

The consumer indicates that her Bluetooth speaker was charging for between one and two hours when she heard a loud pop and then some rattling followed by her smoke detector going off. The consumer ran upstairs and her entire kitchen was filled with white smoke. The consumer noticed that the Bluetooth speaker had caught fire even though she could not see flames; there were burn marks on her countertop.
The consumer contacted the Manufacturer and explained the situation; the representative she spoke to informed her that the smoke was not toxic and that this was an isolated issue. The consumer was also asked to send them back the unit for replacement, and paperwork to pay for the repair and cleaning of the countertop that was damaged. The consumer does not feel confident that the smoke and gas that was released from the unit was not toxic, as stated by the company, because what is being reported online is saying that the smoke and gases from these types of fires are not only a mucous membrane irritant, but it’s also carcinogenic and very dangerous.
The consumer plans on keeping her Bluetooth speaker for at least the next thirty days in case an investigation ensues.

Model
GG0304-JH0174878
Bought from
Walmart, New Jersey
Bought
Jun 15, 2020
Where
Denville, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(5/13/2022) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman also uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product. Despite outreach, Harman has been unable to retrieve the unit that is the subject of this report for evaluation. However, from a review of the information provided, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20220309-C6517-3623658. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Feb 12, 2022, sent to the company Feb 16, 2022, published by CPSC Mar 3, 2022

The product, in the report: Bluetooth portable waterproof speaker

JBL Charge 3 was being charged, battery exploded, filled room with smoke, scorched paperwork, we were lucky to be home.

Model
Charge 3
UPC
Gg0304-eg000781
Serial number
Gg0304-eg000781
Where
Voorhees, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 18, Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
My Child
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(2/23/2022) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Inc. appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards and incorporates state-of-the-art safety protection features. Harman also uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product. Because Harman takes all reports seriously, Harman is undertaking diligent efforts to retrieve the unit that is the subject of this report for analysis. Nevertheless, from a review of the information provided, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20220212-E2711-2147357606. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
First aid
Made Jun 1, 2021, sent to the company Jun 3, 2021, published by CPSC Jun 17, 2021

The product, in the report: JBL charge 4. Black speaker

My JBL speaker was turned off sitting on the night stand in the middle of the night it started spewing out smoke to the point where it filled the whole room. It was hot to the touch so we grabbed it with a bag and threw it in the shower. It continued to smoke and we were afraid it was going to catch fire so we threw it off the balcony

Bought from
Best Buy
Bought
Aug 1, 2019
Where
Chicago, Illinois: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 34, Unknown
The reporter’s relation to them
My Spouse
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional

The company’s comments, in its own words

(6/28/2021) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that, despite that the referenced report states that the product involved was a JBL Charge 4, a video of the incident received from the customer demonstrates that the product does not in fact appear to be a JBL Charge 4. Furthermore, the product in the video does not appear to physically match any of Harman’s other product offerings. In order to examine and analyze the subject unit, Harman requested that the customer return the unit to Harman. However, the customer reported to Harman that she had disposed of the unit and was unable to locate it, making it impossible for Harman to perform any type of visual examination or scientific analysis. Notwithstanding, Harman is committed to continuing to work with the customer to try to obtain as much detail as it can about the incident. Harman states that its exemplary products comply with relevant industry standards and incorporate state-of-the art safety protection features.

CPSC report 20210601-762AA-2147363783. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Apr 14, 2021, sent to the company Apr 22, 2021, published by CPSC May 6, 2021

The product, in the report: JBL Charge 3 bluetooth speaker, serial number TL0284-CH0273513 Model Charge 3

Consumer reported to his local Fire Department that his portable speaker melted during charging.
I’ve had this for about a decade and it’s always performed fine; this would have been really bad as it was charging unattended.
The power adapter, power strip, and other items plugged in to the power strip were unaffected (no damage, warmth, etc). No breakers popped so it was obviously going to continue melting down!
The unit is a JBL Charge 3 bluetooth speaker, serial number TL0284-CH0273513
Here’s the link to the product web site:https://www.jbl.com/bluetooth-speakers/JBL+CHARGE+III.html
As mentioned, I’m sending the damaged unit back to JBL for a replacement in the next couple of days.

Model
Charge 3
Serial number
TL0284-CH0273513
Where
Crystal Lake, Illinois: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Unknown
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(5/7/2021) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman also uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, Harman has retrieved the unit that is the subject of this report. Based on its initial engineering review and analysis, Harman can confirm that the product in question does not contain a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20210414-D7B59-3198005. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No incident, no one hurt
Made Mar 26, 2021, sent to the company Apr 5, 2021, published by CPSC Apr 19, 2021

The product, in the report: Its a JBL Flip 3 Speaker it had melted the back side witch manufacturing and serial number labels were destroyed.

My son had been playing music through JBL Flip3 speaker. He charged it inside the house and put into truck over night. Next morning battery had exploded and melted the console and seat. I contacted Harman company and they give me the run around and nothing happens. I asked them to pay for my console and another seat cover. I sent them pictures and all information, they tell me that can’t see the pictures and i have sent them several different formats. I have 3 or 4 people asking me for information that I send them all.

Model
Flip3
UPC
NA damaged
Serial number
NA damaged
Where
Smithville, Tennessee: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 17, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
My Child
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
No Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(4/9/2021) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards and incorporates state-of-the art safety protection features including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, and charge timeout protection. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, Harman has retrieved the unit that is the subject of this report and is in the process of performing an engineering analysis of the subject unit. However, from a review of the information provided, Harman does not believe that the product in question contains a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20210326-BCC0A-2147365168. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Mar 8, 2021, sent to the company Mar 29, 2021, published by CPSC Apr 12, 2021

The product, in the report: JBL Flip 3Bluetooth Speaker

Fire crews responded to a home where a speaker had overheated in the bathroom. IT was charging withh a charging cord but no signs of fire on the GFCI outlet. The son took the smoking unit outside. There were visible melting spots on the speaker. No injuries reported.

Model
Flip 3
Where
Marstons Mills, Massachusetts: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(4/9/2021) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards and incorporates state-of-the art safety protection features including, but not limited to, over charge current protection, charge temperature protection, and charge timeout protection. Because Harman of course takes all reports seriously, Harman contacted [REDACTED] to obtain copies of the incident and photograph records related to this 6A report. Harman has reviewed and analyzed the records and has confirmed that the product in question does not contain a defect which could pose a substantial product hazard or create an unreasonable risk of injury.

CPSC report 20210308-2A93E-3098994. Submitter: Local Government Agency Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Sep 6, 2020, sent to the company Oct 14, 2020, published by CPSC Nov 10, 2020

The product, in the report: JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker, grey color (https://support.jbl.com/us/en/speakers/speakers-portable/JBL+CHARGE+III.html?color=Grey)

JBL Charge 3 speaker caught fire [REDACTED]. It appeared to occur where the charging cable that came with the unit inserts into the back. I was not home, thankfully the unit was not near flammable materials, no damages or injuries. I purchased the unit in late 2017/early 2018. The number is GG0304-BH0110208. The metal portion of the power cord that inserts into the back has always seemed flimsy/easily bendable.

Model
Charge 3
Serial number
GG0304-BH0110208
Bought from
Fred Meyer
Bought
Jan 6, 2018
Where
Portland, Oregon: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(10/14/2020) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Inc. appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman also uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product.

CPSC report 20200906-299C2-2147369976. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Feb 29, 2020, sent to the company Mar 18, 2020, published by CPSC Apr 1, 2020

The product, in the report: The unit is a JBL Charge3 bluetooth speaker

I was home with my girlfriend, when she smelled smoke. I went upstairs to find my bluetooth speaker was very hot and smoking profusedly. At the time it had been plugged in for approximately an hour to the charger supplied by the manufacturer. I unplugged the speaker and ran with it downstairs, and put it outside. The speaker got hot enough to melt the polyurathane coating on my wood floor. I reported the issue to the manufacturer the following morning. I brought the speaker and charger to my work the next day so that I could document the issue and sent that info to the manufacturer. I requested that they inspect the unit with me, so far they have declined to do so. In the pictures I am submitting you can observe the swelling of the unit near the battery, the polyurathane melted to the unit’s base, and the damage done to the floor. Thermal damage to the unit is also visible. It is my belief that in unplugging and removing the unit I was able to avoid a much more damaging and dangerous situation.

Model
Charge3
Serial number
GG0301-FG0069026
Bought
Nov 14, 2018, about then
Where
Columbus, Ohio: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 33, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(3/30/2020) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Inc. appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman also uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product.

CPSC report 20200229-DD851-2147374566. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Jun 17, 2019, sent to the company Jul 2, 2019, published by CPSC Jul 17, 2019

The product, in the report: JBL E45BT Wireless on-ear headphones

I placed the JBL E45bt headphone to charge. After about 15 minutes I noticed a burning smell. I also observed that the left side appeared melted and was hot. I understand it’s normal for battery powered devices to get warm when charging but this was more intense and caused the plastic to have burn marks. Furthermore, the headphone no longer turns on. I suspect this incident is caused by a faulty wiring or lithium ion battery. I also found a review on Amazon.com for this same product where another person experienced similar problems.

Model
E45BT
Serial number
C50083-GI0892789
Bought from
Target, Minnesota
Bought
Feb 1, 2019, about then
Where
Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 33, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(8/13/2019) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Incorporated appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product has passed robust quality control and safety testing and complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman also uses H-B rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product.

CPSC report 20190617-79E2E-1881223. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Apr 11, 2019, sent to the company Apr 22, 2019, published by CPSC May 6, 2019

The product, in the report: Bluetooth wireless speaker, brand JBL, model Charge 3, color gray. This is a link to the product on company’s website https://www.jbl.com/bluetooth-speakers/JBL+CHARGE+III.html

My wireless speaker caught fire while charging. I was at home at the time and managed to limit the amount of damage this incident could have resulted in. It still damaged a brand new chest of drawers that the speaker was placed on while charging, and smoke damage made the room uninhabitable, I had spend time and money to repaint the room so we could use it again.
It was a Bluetooth wireless speaker, brand JBL, model Charge 3. I’ve had the speaker for about a year and four months at the time of the incident and never had any issues with it. I plugged the charger into the speaker and about an hour later I heard a noise and the fire alarm went off. I opened the door to the room and it was filled with thick smoke. The speaker unit was hot to touch and melted burned plastic was oozing out from it. I threw a T-shirt over it to be able to grab it and I threw it out of the window.

Model
Charge 3
Serial number
GG0304-BH0104722
Bought from
Amazon.com
Bought
Oct 13, 2017
Where
Dearborn, United States: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand JBL, made or sold by Harman International Industries, Incroporated
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(5/9/2019) Harman International Industries, Incroporated: Harman International Industries, Inc. appreciates receiving notification of this 6A report and the opportunity to provide a response to the Commission. Harman notes that the referenced product complies with all applicable industry standards. Harman also uses V-0 rated fire retardant materials in connection with this product.

CPSC report 20190411-D7869-2147381726. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

JBL stereo and hi-fi equipment

At a glance

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How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

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