← All articles

18 Serious Product Accidents Announced — Including 2 Fires While Charging With Another Brand's Cable or Adapter

Among 18 serious product accidents Japan just announced, two fires broke out while devices were charging with another brand's cable or adapter. The causes are still under investigation.

18 Serious Product Accidents Announced — Including 2 Fires While Charging With Another Brand's Cable or Adapter
  • On October 9, 2026, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency announced 18 serious product accidents reported under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
  • In Tokyo, two fires occurred while charging with another brand's equipment: a lithium-battery charger connected to another maker's cable (August 25, 2026) and an electric shaver connected to another maker's USB cable and AC adapter (September 15, 2026); a rechargeable handheld fan also caught fire inside a car (July 28, 2026).
  • The agency stresses these are preliminary reports with facts and causes not yet confirmed; separately, two 2024 fires involving the REG-04 rechargeable massager are now classed as suspected to be caused by the product itself.

18 cases in a single announcement

On October 9, 2026, Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency announced, in one batch, 18 serious product accidents reported by manufacturers and other businesses.

Several of them are fires involving products that run on rechargeable power.

Fires while charging with another brand's cable or adapter

On August 25, 2026, in Tokyo, a charger with a built-in lithium battery was being charged with another maker's cable when it made a strange noise. When checked, the product and its surroundings had burned.

On September 15, 2026, also in Tokyo, an electric shaver being charged with another maker's USB cable and AC adapter caught fire, melting the device and the cable connection.

In both cases, it is still under investigation whether the product itself or some other factor was to blame.

Handheld fans and rechargeable massagers

On July 28, 2026, in Tokyo, a rechargeable handheld fan being used inside a car caught fire. The cause is under investigation.

In addition, Dream Factory's REG-04 rechargeable massager caused 2 fires while charging in 2024, in Tokyo and Hiroshima Prefecture. Investigators believe the internal battery overheated abnormally and ignited, so both cases have now been classed as suspected to be caused by the product.

Separately, on September 25, 2026, in Tokyo, a 9-month-old baby suffered mild carbon monoxide poisoning while an outdoor gas water heater with heating function was in use. The cause of this case is also being investigated.

Words in this article

重大製品事故じゅうだいせいひんじこ
serious product accident
充電じゅうでん
charging
他社たしゃ
another company
携帯型扇風機けいたいがたせんぷうき
portable (handheld) fan
一酸化炭素中毒いっさんかたんそちゅうどく
carbon monoxide poisoning
調査中ちょうさちゅう
under investigation
型式かたしき
model number

Notes

This article was checked on October 12, 2026.

According to the agency, this is a summary of reports; the facts are not yet confirmed and may change later. If you use a similar type of product, check the product names and model numbers in the original document.

Source: 消費者庁 (9 Oct 2026)