Recalls: RC cars, batteries and chargers, as the regulators state them.

United States: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

RC vehicles

• Recall 17-139 (25 April 2017). Horizon Hobby recalled ECX Circuit, Ruckus and Torment 1/10 remote-controlled model vehicles (models ECX03130T1, ECX03130T2, ECX03131T1, ECX03131T2, ECX03133T1, ECX03133T2 and ECX03154). The CPSC stated that the Dynamite 40-amp electronic speed control (DYNS2201) can fail and short-circuit, a fire hazard. About 18,600 units in the US plus 540 in Canada; 19 reports of the speed control catching fire, with no injuries or property damage reported. Remedy: a free replacement speed control.
• Release 08-318 (1 July 2008). Redcat Racing recalled about 1,400 FM remote-controlled vehicles: the 1/8 Hurricane XP and XP Pro road buggies, the Avalanche XP truck, the Monsoon XP truggy and the 1/10 Tsunami Ultrawide truggy. The CPSC stated that the remote control could lose its signal and the vehicle lose control, a risk of injury to the user or bystanders. About 15 reports of malfunctions, no injuries. Remedy: a replacement remote control.
• 19 June 2001 (no recall number recorded). Equity Marketing recalled about 4,300 promotional remote-controlled toy race cars because circuit problems can cause overheating and smoke, a potential burn hazard. Three reports of smoke, no injuries. Remedy: a refund. This was a promotional toy.

Batteries

• Recall 13-227 (25 June 2013). Horizon Hobby recalled Dynamite 7.4 V 2S LiPo batteries (DYN1429), sold separately for Losi Micro remote-control vehicles. The CPSC stated that the leads were wired to the wrong connector terminals, so use or charging could make the battery overheat, a fire hazard. About 117 units; no incidents reported. Remedy: a refund or replacement.
• Recall 07-101 (13 February 2007). JAKKS Pacific recalled about 245,000 lithium-ion polymer battery packs for FLY WHEELS XPV radio-controlled toy vehicles, which the CPSC stated can ignite while charging. 33 reports of batteries melting or catching fire while charging, including three minor finger burns and 23 reports of property damage. Remedy: a free replacement pack. This was a toy, not a hobby racing car.

Chargers

• Recall 04-160 (15 June 2004). Associated Electrics recalled 4,900 Reedy Quasar Pro battery chargers (model 611), which the CPSC described as used to charge batteries for remote control race cars. It stated that a faulty fuse and a programming error can make the battery packs being charged overheat and explode. Three reports of exploding cells, one bruised hand and one eye injury from flying debris. Remedy: a free repair.
• Recall 26-379 (2 April 2026). About 4,800 HTRC and Haisito T400 battery chargers made by Huizhou Haitan Technology, which the CPSC stated can ignite or cause a connected battery to ignite, a fire hazard with a risk of serious injury and death. 33 reports of fires and explosions, 3 of burn and smoke-inhalation injuries and 12 of property damage. Remedy: a full refund. The CPSC notice does not say what batteries the charger is for, so this site does not call it an RC charger.
• Recall 25-066 (12 December 2024). About 34,600 HTRC C240 battery chargers made by Shenzhen Haitan Technology, sold for charging lithium-ion batteries, which the CPSC stated can catch fire or cause a connected battery to catch fire. 32 reports of fire and thermal incidents, five with significant property damage and one injury. Remedy: a refund. The notice, read on the CPSC's Chinese-language page, does not mention RC models, so this site does not call it an RC charger.

A note on RC aircraft

Some of the CPSC's lithium battery warnings concern RC aircraft, not cars. Its consumer alert 08-189 (12 February 2008) is about remote-controlled helicopters and airplanes and does not name RC cars. Those notices are covered on battery fire risk.

Canada: Health Canada

• 10 November 2011. The Losi NiMH Start-Up Combo Charger (model LOSB9904), sold with a NiMH battery, because the charger and battery can give off too much heat, a burn and fire hazard. About 25 were sold in Canada from January to March 2011. Horizon Hobby had eight reports of overheating batteries and no injuries; Health Canada had none in Canada. Remedy: a refund.

United Kingdom: Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)

• Product safety report PSD 2502-0069 (18 March 2025). A "GM Official Hummer H2" radio-controlled toy car (model 2056A) was assessed as a high risk of fire because of poor-quality connections: the report describes battery output wires soldered directly to the circuit board that could detach under vibration and short-circuit, and poor soldering in the USB charger. It failed the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, and the import was rejected at the border. This was a toy-grade car, not a hobby racing car.

What searches did not find

• No CPSC, Health Canada or EU Safety Gate recall of a hobby racing car, LiPo racing pack or hobby charger dated 2025 or 2026.
• No EU Safety Gate alert for a hobby RC car or LiPo racing battery; Health Canada and Safety Gate searches found only toys and unrelated products.
• Australia's ACCC recalls were not read.

A product affected by a recall, or one that is overheating, smoking or burning, is a matter for the maker's or regulator's instructions and, in a fire, the emergency services. This site gives no repair, charging or disposal steps.