Health Canada Recalls 309 Cambridge Audio Speakers Whose Lithium Batteries Can Overheat and Ignite

The refund amount is on Cambridge Audio's Canadian page, not the recall notice

Health Canada's notice tells owners to contact Cambridge Audio "to arrange a refund" but doesn't give an amount. Cambridge Audio's Canadian recall page does. Canadian owners can claim a cash refund of the price they paid per boxed pair. If you don't have proof of purchase, the refund is C$300 per pair. Some U.S. coverage quotes US$218, but that is the U.S. figure and doesn't apply here.

To claim:

• Photograph the evidence first. The claim form asks for photos of the product and its serial number, so take a clear shot of the FD number on the underside of each speaker.
• Fill in the assessment form on Cambridge Audio's Canadian page, or contact the company directly. Health Canada lists 888-805-5001 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday) and recall.canada@cambridgeaudio.com.
• Keep the speakers until the refund is confirmed. Don't throw them out or alter them in any way.
• Don't ship them anywhere. The company says not to mail or courier the product to Cambridge Audio or anyone else. Sending a recalled lithium-ion battery through the mail puts the risk on someone else.

One more rule applies after that. Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, recalled products can't be redistributed, sold or even given away in Canada. That means you can't put the speakers on Marketplace, hand them to a relative or leave them at a donation bin. It's an easy rule to forget when you're clearing out a house before a move.

Most homes have several retired batteries stored the same way

Very few Canadians own a Yoyo (M). Most homes, though, have a drawer or bin of retired rechargeable devices: an old Bluetooth speaker, a cordless drill battery for a tool that's gone, a laptop brick, a vape pen, a spare e-bike or scooter pack. Toronto's safety page lists e-bikes, mobility scooters, e-cigarettes, vacuums, lawn equipment, smoke alarms and toys as common lithium-ion devices. It notes that certified batteries used properly are generally safe, while overcharged, modified or damaged ones can cause a fire or explosion.

Health Canada's recall instructions only apply to the Yoyo (M). The Toronto page doesn't say a battery becomes dangerous just because it's old. Still, the same approach works for any device you've stopped using. Leave it off and unplugged. Keep it away from paper, cardboard, solvents and heat. Once you've decided you're done with it, take it to your municipal program instead of leaving it in storage. Loose batteries waiting for drop-off can go in a clear plastic bag, or have their terminals covered with clear packing, duct or electrical tape, which is what Toronto recommends.

Battery fires are becoming more common. The City of Vancouver reports that battery-caused fires rose an average of 20% a year over the preceding three years. A closet of forgotten devices is a small version of that risk.

For another battery recall of this kind, see our coverage of Wyze solar security cameras recalled over lithium-battery fire risk.

Coverage is generally there, but liability and exclusions depend on your policy

The Insurance Bureau of Canada puts the starting point simply: fire is covered by insurance as long as you didn't set it deliberately. The same guidance adds two points. First, you could be held liable for damage to a building or neighbouring units caused by a lithium-ion battery fire, which matters for condo owners and renters. Second, e-bikes and e-scooters may need coverage beyond a standard policy.

Those are general statements from an industry body, not a promise about any specific claim. Policy wording, deductibles, condo-corporation bylaws and how an insurer weighs a known recall all differ. If you own a recalled product, the most useful thing you can do is follow the recall instructions and keep a record. A photo of the FD number, the date you stopped using the speakers and your refund confirmation show that you acted on the notice. For anything more specific, the IBC suggests talking to an insurance representative.

Our coverage of the MagSafe power bank recall at Winners and HomeSense covers a much larger battery recall, where the same insurance points apply.