Own a Cambridge Audio YOYO (M)? Stop Using It Immediately
Cambridge Audio has recalled its YOYO (M) portable Bluetooth speaker after identifying a potentially dangerous lithium-ion battery problem that can cause the battery to overheat, enter thermal runaway, and potentially catch fire.
The company is asking all YOYO (M) owners to stop using their speakers immediately, regardless of when they were purchased or what serial number they carry.
Cambridge Audio says the battery can overheat and enter thermal runaway, potentially resulting in fire, smoke and the ejection of hot battery material. The company has received a small number of reports involving the issue. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says four incidents involving fire, smoke or ejected battery material have been reported, although no injuries have been reported.
The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards has classified the recall as a serious fire risk and confirmed that the product is being recalled from consumers.
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Every Cambridge Audio YOYO (M) Is Affected
This is an unusually broad recall because there is no exempt batch or safe serial-number range.
Cambridge Audio says all YOYO (M) units are affected, regardless of when they were purchased or their serial number. The recall covers all three colour versions:
- Light Grey – C10930
- Dark Grey – C10931
- Blue – C10965
The model and serial information can be found on the bottom of the speaker.
The recall does not apply to the YOYO (S) or YOYO (L).
Why Is the YOYO (M) Being Recalled?
The problem involves the speaker’s internal lithium-ion battery.
According to Cambridge Audio, the battery can overheat and enter a condition known as thermal runaway. If this occurs, the speaker can potentially catch fire, produce smoke and eject hot battery material.
The company warns that this creates risks including fire, burns, serious injury and property damage.
The UK product-safety authority independently lists overheating and thermal runaway as the hazard and says the product presents a serious risk of fire.
What Should YOYO (M) Owners Do?
Cambridge Audio’s instructions are straightforward: stop using the speaker immediately.
Owners should disconnect the YOYO (M) from its power supply and do not charge it again. Cambridge Audio also recommends keeping the speaker away from combustible materials.
Owners should not attempt to open the speaker, repair it, or remove the battery themselves.
The company also says not to place the speaker in household waste or ordinary recycling. Lithium-ion batteries require specialist handling, transport and disposal.
Don’t Send the Speaker Back Yet
There is another important point for affected owners: do not simply mail or courier the speaker back to Cambridge Audio.
The company says owners should first register through the appropriate recall process for their country. Cambridge Audio will then provide instructions for what happens next.
Owners should also avoid disposing of the speaker until they have received the appropriate instructions.
What Happens to U.S. Owners?
In the United States, the recall is being conducted voluntarily in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The CPSC says approximately 714 speakers are involved. The affected YOYO (M) was sold through specialty stores and online retailers, including Cambridge Audio, Amazon, and eBay, from 2016 through 2022, at prices of approximately $172 to $218.
U.S. owners can apply for a $218 cash refund or a $350 Cambridge Audio online-store voucher, according to the CPSC. Owners must keep the speakers until Cambridge Audio has processed the claim and provided instructions for safe disposal.
What About Owners Outside the U.S.?
The recall process varies by region.
In the United Kingdom, Cambridge Audio has notified Trading Standards and the Office for Product Safety and Standards and is directing owners to its YOYO (M) assessment process. The UK government has separately listed the product as a serious-risk recall.
In Europe, Cambridge Audio says the recall has been notified through the relevant European safety systems and national authorities. Owners are being asked to register and wait for instructions rather than disposing of their speakers themselves.
For other countries and territories, Cambridge Audio says it is still finalizing the appropriate remedy and asks owners to register their interest while continuing to follow the safety instructions.
A Recall That YOYO (M) Owners Shouldn’t Ignore
The most important point is simple: if you own a Cambridge Audio YOYO (M), stop using and charging it.
This isn’t a situation where owners need to determine whether their particular serial number happens to fall within a limited production batch. Cambridge Audio says every YOYO (M) is affected by the recall.
Even speakers that have worked normally for years are included. Cambridge Audio says the product had been tested to the applicable safety standards when it was designed and manufactured, but the company was later alerted to a small number of serious incidents and decided to recall the entire YOYO (M) range as a precaution.
Owners should therefore follow Cambridge Audio’s regional recall process rather than continuing to use the speaker simply because it has never previously shown signs of a battery problem.
