Apple recalling AC wall plug adapters in Australia, NZ, others

Apple is recalling the two-prong AC wall plug adapters it sold for over 12 years over fears that it could create risk of electrical shock in “very rare cases.” The electronics giant announced voluntary exchange program for the products sold in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Argentina, Brazil and Continental Europe.

There were 12 electric shock incidents of the AC wall plug adapters that were reported worldwide in the past years, an Apple spokeswoman told the ABC. Nevertheless, the company has issued a recall as a matter of precaution.

“Customer safety is always Apple’s top priority, and we have voluntarily decided to exchange affected wall plug adapters with a new, redesigned adapter, free of charge. We encourage customers to exchange any affected parts using the process below,” a statement on its website reads, adding images to show the affected parts.

The wall plug adapters concerned were sold from 2003 to 2015 with Mac and certain iOS devices in the said regions. They were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit.

If a wall plug adapter has four or five characters or no characters on the inside slot where it attaches to an Apple power adapter, it is included in the recall. The new plug adapters should have three-letter regional code in the slot (EUR, KOR, AUS, ARG or BRA).

Apple recommends exchanging the affected adapters at a local Apple store or an authorised Apple Service provider. Before Apple can exchange the product, it needs to verify the serial number first. The exchange does not affect the product’s warranty. Those who have paid for a replacement should contact Apple for a refund.

The mentioned product is the only one affected and included in the exchange program. The program does not include Apple USB power adapters and AC wall adapters designed for Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom and United States.