Apple Replacing Faulty European iPhone USB Adapters

Apple announced last week that it has started a replacement program for a specific type of European iPhone USB adapter. The Apple 5W European USB power adapter, Model A1300, has proven itself faulty, and is reported to have the ability to overheat and cause a safety risk. In light of that knowledge, Apple is voluntarily replacing customers' adapters, whether or not they have caused any respective individuals problems, at no cost.

“Customer safety is always Apple’s top priority, and we have voluntarily decided to exchange every affected power adapter for a new, redesigned adapter, free of charge,” Apple says on its exchange program information site. “We encourage customers to exchange any affected adapter for a new one as soon as possible.”

The 5W adapter was originally shipped with several previous-generation iPhones including the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S models. Apple shipped them from October 2009 to September 2012 to a number of European countries it lists on its site.

Residents of the following countries may have received the 5W adapter with their mobile devices: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech, Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Vietnam.

Apple makes it clear that the A1300 is the only model affected by this recall and other 5W-style adapters are not part of the replacement program. Users can identify their adapters by looking at the text between a device's two metal prongs. It will list the text “Model A1300” and the letters “CE” in solid gray. Redesigned adapters will list the text “Model A1400” and the letters “CE” outlined in gray. Apple provides a graphic of the adapters on its site.

Users can take their A1300 models to Apple Stores or Apple retail providers to exchange their old adapters for new ones. In order to verify their phones' serial numbers, users must bring their iPhones to stores with them before Apple can make any exchanges.