January 9, 2026 – A consumer has reported an incident involving a Lenovo Legion 5 16IRX9 gaming laptop, where the device allegedly emitted a pop, flash, and smoke from its vents while in use, leading to complete non-functionality. The incident, which occurred on December 7, 2025, raised concerns about potential fire hazards, though no injuries were reported.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On December 7, 2025, a consumer reported an incident with their Lenovo Legion 5 16IRX9 gaming laptop. The user stated they were using the laptop while it was plugged in with the manufacturer-supplied power cable. Upon attempting to open a video game program, they heard a distinct “pop” sound and observed a flash inside the laptop. Immediately after, the laptop screen went off, and smoke began emanating from all of its vents. The user promptly removed the power cable and moved the laptop to the kitchen. While the user did not attempt to open the laptop internally, the significant amount of smoke led them to believe an internal fire had occurred. The laptop is now completely non-functional. The user noted that there was no visible exterior damage, but a persistent smell of burnt plastic was noticeable even 12 hours after the incident. No one was injured, but the user expressed concern that the incident could have escalated into a significant fire if the laptop had been near flammable materials and not immediately unplugged. The consumer is currently pursuing a warranty refund through Costco and Lenovo.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several significant safety concerns associated with consumer electronics, particularly high-performance laptops:
- Immediate Dangers: The reported “pop,” flash, and smoke are strong indicators of an internal electrical malfunction or component failure, potentially involving the battery or power delivery system. Such events can rapidly escalate into a thermal runaway, posing an immediate risk of fire. Smoke inhalation is also a potential immediate danger, even from small internal fires.
- Long-Term Risks: While this specific incident did not result in an external fire, the potential for such an event to occur unattended or while a user is asleep presents a severe long-term risk. Internal damage from overheating or electrical shorts can degrade components, leading to future failures even if the initial incident appears contained.
- Who Might Be Affected: Anyone owning or operating a similar Lenovo Legion 5 16IRX9 laptop could potentially be at risk. Given the nature of gaming laptops, which often involve higher power demands and more robust components, any design or manufacturing flaw could affect a broad user base. Children or individuals who might not react quickly to a sudden malfunction could be particularly vulnerable.
- Property Damage Potential: The user explicitly noted concern about the potential for a “significant fire if the laptop was around flammable materials.” Laptops are often used on beds, couches, or near curtains, making the risk of property damage substantial if an internal fire were to ignite external materials. The persistent smell of burnt plastic indicates material combustion occurred, reinforcing the fire hazard.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Lenovo Legion 5 16IRX9 laptop or similar models should take the following precautions:
- Immediate Steps: If your laptop exhibits any unusual sounds (pops, hissing), smells (burning plastic), smoke, excessive heat, or flashes, immediately power it down, unplug it from its charger, and move it to a non-flammable surface, away from anything combustible. Do not attempt to open or repair the device yourself.
- Check Your Product: Verify if you own the Lenovo Legion 5 16IRX9 model. This information is typically found on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop or in the system settings.
- Prevention Measures:
* Always use the manufacturer-supplied power cable and adapter.
* Ensure proper ventilation for your laptop, especially during demanding tasks like gaming. Avoid using it on soft surfaces like beds or carpets that can block vents.
* Monitor your laptop for unusual heat, swelling of the battery (which might cause the casing to bulge), or performance issues.
* Do not leave laptops charging unattended for extended periods, especially overnight or when you are not home.
* Store laptops in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience a similar incident, report it immediately to the manufacturer (Lenovo) and the retailer (Costco, if purchased there). Additionally, consider reporting the incident to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at SaferProducts.gov to help identify potential broader safety trends.
Manufacturer’s Response
Lenovo has acknowledged the incident report. On January 9, 2026, Lenovo stated that safety is their number one priority and expressed concern regarding the report. Lenovo’s Customer Relations team has been in direct contact with the submitter and has requested that the product be sent to Lenovo for analysis. As of the response date, Lenovo had not yet received the product. Upon receipt, Lenovo plans to conduct an analysis to determine the root cause of the failure, if any, and to ascertain what, if any, corrective actions may be appropriate. Lenovo also confirmed that the reported product is not within the scope of any current Lenovo product recall.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.