Apple has recalled adapter plugs sold with older iPhones amid concerns they might overheat. “In rare cases,” Apple warns, the 5W European USB power adapter “may overheat and pose a safety risk.” The adapter for European two-prong power sockets comes with the iPhone, and is also sold as a separate accessory. According to Apple, the only plugs with a problem are those that were sold with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S between October 2009 and September 2012. A redesigned version comes with more recent phones. If you have one of the older, potentially defective adapters, Apple will swap it for one of the redesigned versions.
If you purchased model A1300 of the European iPhone adapter between October 2009 and September 2012, then you may want to keep it as far away from an outlet as possible. Apple launched a replacement program for the faulty wall adapter after the company found out it overheats, potentially proving to be a safety risk. The adapter, included with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S, was replaced by model A1400 in 2012, which is not affected. Whether you purchased the European iPhone adapter separately, or it came bundled with the aforementioned iPhones, Apple wants you to make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to get it replaced. If neither one is close to you, you can contact Apple Technical Support. This will likely be quite the undertaking for Apple, seeing as millions of the model A1300 adapters are out in the wild. Notable countries affected by the recall include Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and Turkey. You can check out the full list at Apple’s dedicated portal for the issue.