U.S. Regulators Announce Recall of 1 Million Samsung Phones

U.S. safety regulators started an official recall of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, about two weeks after the company halted sales of the devices following reports that they are susceptible to catching fire and exploding.

Samsung is recalling about one million of the phones because a battery flaw can lead to overheating, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday in a statement. That represents about 97 percent of the Note 7 devices that hit the U.S. market, CPSC chairman Elliot Kaye said at a press conference. Samsung told regulators the phone's battery was slightly too big for its compartment and the tight space pinched the battery, causing it to short-circuit, Kaye said.

"Last week the public heard our message to power down the phone. This week's message is go get a replacement or a refund," Kaye said. "Because this product presents such a serious fire hazard, I am urging all consumers to take advantage of this recall right away."

A comprehensive report hasn't yet been released on the battery issue. Samsung said previously in a report to a Korean government agency that there was an error in production that pressured the plates within the battery cells and brought opposing poles into contact, which triggered the excessive heat. The company sent a separate report to China's inspection agency asserting that the problem came from separators sitting between the electrodes that could thin out and cause short-circuiting.

Customers who purchased the smartphone before September should immediately stop using and turn off their phone, according to the CPSC. The agency advised consumers to contact their wireless carrier or a Samsung retail outlet to receive a free new phone with a different battery, a refund, or a replacement device.

Samsung has received 92 reports of the batteries overheating in the U.S., including 26 reports of burns and 55 of property damage from fires in cars and a garage, according to the CPSC.

New replacement phones will be available at most retail locations in the U.S. no later than Sept. 21, the Suwon, South Korea-based company said in a separate statement.

Samsung has been criticized for its lack of guidelines and for announcing its own replacement program on Sept. 2, rather than immediately working with the CPSC to issue an official recall.

The Department of Transportation is ordering airline passengers not to bring Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on planes unless they keep them turned off and don't charge them during the flight.

Passengers also must disable all applications that could inadvertently activate the phone, like an alarm clock; protect the power switch to prevent the phone from being unintentionally turned on; and keep the device in carry-on baggage or on their person, not in a checked bag.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement that anyone who travels with the recalled device must take precautions to ensure its safe handling. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to passengers about the phones last week.