Targus computers and video games
5 reports to CPSC, the latest made Aug 20, 2011. A report isn’t a recall.
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 Oct 25, 2026.
- 5reports to CPSC
- Aug 20, 2011the latest report was made
- May 23, 2011the earliest
- 2with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Targus
- Makers
- MERKURY INNOVATIONS LLC and TargusMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Computers and video gamesComputers, their equipment and electronic gamesCPSC’s product type: Computers (Equipment and Electronic Games) (code 557), in Electronics: Computers, Monitors, Projectors
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| August 2011 | 4 |
| May 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Hurt, no treatment 2 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- No one hurt 3 CPSC: 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 Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Aug 20, 2011, published by CPSC Sep 12, 2011
The product, in the report: Targus presentation remote
Almost started a fire. Had I just gone off to the airport after buying this, there would have been a fire. TARGUS laser presentation remotes with spare battery compartments ARE A FIRE HAZARD!!!
As another report shows on this site these spare battery compartments are a fire hazard and I am just lucky I tried it before packing for the plane.
- Model
- laser presentation remote
- UPC
- 9263624643
- Bought from
- staples, New Hampshire
- Bought
- Aug 20, 2011
- Where
- Unspecified: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 37, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Targus, made or sold by Targus
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Aug 16, 2011, published by CPSC Sep 15, 2011
The product, in the report: Targus USB SD card reader
I bought a brand new Targus High Speed SD/SDHC/MMC Micr SD/ T-F Card Reader/Writer model#2665 from Target in Clearwater, FL, two weeks ago. I was using it on my laptop when I noticed it got really hot. I tried to pull it out of the usb drive and the whole plastic back of the reader was melted and burning hot. I had only used the reader in the usb for approximately 20 mins. My husband pulled the reader out of the computer and the card out of the reader.
- Model
- Targus USB 2.0 SD Card Reader:
- Bought from
- Target
- Bought
- Aug 2, 2011, about then
- Where
- Clearwater, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 36, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand Targus, made or sold by MERKURY INNOVATIONS LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Aug 15, 2011, published by CPSC Sep 15, 2011
The product, in the report: Brand=Targus Name of item=Secure Digital Card Reader/Writer Item#=TGR-MSD500 It is black, plugs into a USB port, and is 2.75”x1.5”x0.25”
I bought a secure digital card reader made by Targus, item # TGR-MSD500 on 8/13/11. I used it on 8/14/11 and left it plugged into my computer. This morning, 8/15/11, I smelled a melting plastic smell and traced it to the card reader. The card reader was very hot to the touch, and it had partially melted.
- Model
- TGR-MSD500
- UPC
- 44702 00579
- Bought from
- Target
- Bought
- Aug 13, 2011
- Where
- Tacoma, Washington: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 46, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Targus, made or sold by MERKURY INNOVATIONS LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Aug 2, 2011, published by CPSC Aug 24, 2011
The product, in the report: Small battery-operated device to control a computer as it runs a PowerPoint presentation.
Just purchased a Targus Presentation Remote (Model AMP13US). The unit runs on one AAA battery, and has a space for a spare AAA battery. I noted that the space for the spare battery seemed too short, as I had to really push on the battery to get it to fit down in. The unit itself worked just fine--ahead, back, screen blackout, and laser pointer were all OK. Then it became obvious that one side of the unit was warmer than expected. Removed the battery cover, and the spare battery was too hot to hold! Apparently, the bottom of the battery had pushed in far enough to short out on something it was pushed up against. Not a good situation. Another few minutes and it could have started burning.
- Model
- AMP13 or AMP13US
- UPC
- 9263624643
- Serial number
- none
- Bought from
- Office Depot, California
- Bought
- Jul 27, 2011, about then
- Where
- Angwin, California: Other
- Who was involved
- Age 65, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Targus, made or sold by Targus
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made May 23, 2011, published by CPSC Jun 22, 2011
The product, in the report: 24 “ USB extension cable.
Was using a Targus multi-card reader with its 24” USB cable extension to start a download pics from SD card to a computer USB plug. After only about 2 minutes I smelled sometime hot while I was troubleshooting why my drive was not pulling up on the computer to start the downloading. The hot smell was my USB extension cable that very hot to the touch that I had to pull it to unplug it from the computer to prevent a fire. Luckily I only plug in the cable when I need to use it. I thought maybe the USB plug on my computer was bad so I tried another USB cable and the Targus reader itself but neither got hot, so to test the cable again I plugged it in and quickly unplugged it as it was getting hot quickly. The cable has no visible damage to the covering or the ends.
This cable is maybe about 6 months old, I think I bought it around Xmas time at Radio Shack or Walmart. If I remember correctly it came as a package with the Targus multi-card reader.
The only writing on the plastic card reader is Micro SD/T-F on the back.
The front has High Speed SD/SDHC/MMC Micro SD/T-F Card Reader/Writer
- Bought from
- Radio Shack or Walmart, Kentucky
- Bought
- Dec 1, 2010, about then
- Where
- Pleasureville, Kentucky: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 51, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Targus, made or sold by MERKURY INNOVATIONS LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
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
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 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.