Bose Bluetooth Speaker Battery Fires Trigger Massive US Recall
Nothing can ruin a house party quite like a portable speaker igniting into a fiery blaze. Such is the risk that lithium-ion batteries sometimes face, and it's the reason why Bose has issued a voluntary, massive recall affecting more than 670,000 lithium-ion battery packs used in its S1 Pro and S1 Pro+ Bluetooth speaker systems sold in the United States and Canada. Same applies to replacement battery packs sold separately.
While the recall is voluntary, there are documented incidents that led to its decision. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bose has received seven reports of battery packs melting, smoking, or catching fire, including six incidents involving property damage. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Sound familiar? Sonos also faced reports of overheating and melting involving its first-generation Roam speakers last year, though those incidents centered on the USB-C charging connection rather than the battery packs, and did not result in a recall.
According to the CPSC, the recall affects approximately 634,759 battery packs sold in the U.S. and another 35,400 in Canada, bringing the total to around 670,159. The affected units were available from December 2017 through July 2026 at multiple retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and direct from Bose, as well as "other websites."
These are not inexpensive speakers, either. Speaker systems sold with the affected battery packs sold for around $700, while individual battery packs fetched between $100 and $160. Note that the recall is specific to the battery packs and not the actual speakers. That means owners can continue using their S1 Pro and S1 Pro+ speakers with AC power after removing the affected batteries.
How To Check If Your Bose Speaker Is Affected
The recall is specific to certain serial numbers. If the first six digits of your battery pack's serial number begin with any of the following, yours is part of the recall and you are advised to stop using it immediately:
- 083723
- 078352
- 084105
- 078591
- 078592
- 084106
- 086409
To find the serial number, first power off your S1 system and unplug it. Once you've done that, flip it over and loosen a couple of screws from the bottom plate to pop it off, and then remove the battery pack using the pull tabs. The process is the same for both the S1 Pro and S1 Pro+.
What then? Both Bose and CPSC warn against throwing them away, tossing them into your general recycling bin, or taking them to recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores.
"Recalled lithium-ion batteries must be disposed of differently than other batteries because they present a greater risk of fire. Your municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center may accept this recalled lithium-ion battery pack for disposal. Before taking your battery pack to a HHW collection center, contact that office ahead of time and ask whether it accepts recalled lithium-ion batteries. If it does not, contact your municipality for further guidance," the recall notice states.
Once you've done all that, head to Bose's support page for instructions on how to request a free replacement battery pack that won't catch fire.
