January 30, 2026 – A recent incident report details a concerning safety hazard involving an Onn brand car charger, purchased from Walmart, which reportedly melted and caused an electrical fire scare while a consumer was driving with their child. The incident, occurring just days after purchase, raises significant questions about the safety and quality control of these widely available electronics accessories.
Product Details
Incident Overview
According to the consumer’s report, an Onn brand car charger was purchased from Walmart on December 26th. Just five days later, on December 31st, at approximately 8 PM, while the consumer was driving with their son, they were suddenly overcome by the strong smell of an electrical fire. Amidst a frantic search for the source of the smell, the consumer felt intense heat on their stomach and quickly identified a glowing light emanating from the end of the Onn phone charger. Crucially, the charger was not actively plugged into their phone at the time of the incident. The end of the charger, which typically connects to a phone, had melted significantly, burning a hole through the consumer’s sweater. The individual expressed profound relief that they and their son detected the hazard quickly, preventing a potentially tragic outcome, and now fears using any Onn brand chargers due to the perceived fire risk.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several serious safety concerns associated with the Onn car charger:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary and most immediate danger is the risk of fire. An electrical fire, particularly within an enclosed space like a moving vehicle, can spread rapidly, leading to severe burns, smoke inhalation, and potentially catastrophic vehicle damage or total loss. The consumer and their son were in a state of panic, a situation that could also lead to driver distraction and an increased risk of a road accident.
- Thermal Burns and Property Damage: The charger’s melting caused a hole in the consumer’s sweater, demonstrating its capacity to inflict direct thermal burns on skin or cause significant property damage to clothing, upholstery, or other vehicle components.
- Unattended Hazard: The fact that the charger began to melt and smolder while *not connected to the phone* suggests a potential internal defect that can cause overheating even when not actively in use for charging. This creates an unattended hazard, as a charger left plugged into a vehicle’s power outlet could ignite without direct interaction.
- Manufacturing Defects: The rapid failure of a new product, purchased only days prior, points towards a potential manufacturing defect in the charger’s components, wiring, or circuitry, leading to thermal runaway or short-circuiting.
- Widespread Risk: Given that Onn is a private label brand for Walmart, millions of these chargers may be in circulation, potentially exposing a large consumer base to similar risks.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own Onn brand car chargers, or any similar generic brand charging accessories, should take the following precautions:
- Discontinue Use Immediately: If you own an Onn brand car charger, especially one similar to the description (car charger for a phone), consider discontinuing its use immediately, particularly if it shows any signs of wear, damage, or overheating.
- Unplug When Not In Use: To mitigate risks, always unplug car chargers from your vehicle’s power outlet when they are not actively in use. Do not leave them plugged in unattended.
- Inspect Regularly: Periodically inspect all charging cables and adapters for signs of damage, fraying, discoloration, or melting. Discard any damaged accessories.
- Monitor for Overheating: If you must use a car charger, periodically check if the charger itself or your phone is becoming excessively hot during use. Unplug it immediately if you detect unusual heat or smell anything burning.
- Report Incidents: If you experience a similar incident with a car charger or any consumer product, report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Your report helps identify hazardous products and can prompt recalls or safety improvements.
- Retain Evidence: If an incident occurs, safely retain the product (if possible and safe to do so), any damaged property, and detailed records including purchase receipts and photos/videos of the incident.
Manufacturer’s Response
As of the report date, Walmart Stores Inc., the manufacturer of the Onn brand, has not yet provided a public response to this specific incident report.
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.