Australia watchdog warns Google Pixel 4a could be a fire hazard

Google Pixel 4a smartphones are being recalled across Australia due to concerns that a recent software update may have turned these popular devices into potential fire hazards. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a product safety notice on March 7, 2025, warning that an overheating battery could pose serious risks to users.

The recall stems from an automatic firmware update rolled out to Pixel 4a devices across the globe in January 2025. According to the ACCC, this update was intended to introduce “new battery management features to mitigate the risk of overheating.” However, it appears the update may have had unintended consequences for some devices, prompting Google to initiate a recall for units carrying the model number G025N, sold between August 1, 2020, and September 30, 2022. These phones were available through major retailers like Google Australia, Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom, Likewise Australia, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and Officeworks, both in-store and online.

“An overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user,” the ACCC warned in its recall notice, emphasizing the severity of the issue. Affected consumers may be eligible for remedies such as refunds or replacements, though Google has clarified that not all Pixel 4a devices are impacted. “If a consumer’s device is not affected by the issue, the firmware update will have no impact on battery management, and the device will perform the same as before,” the notice explained. Users are urged to verify whether their phone has received the update and, if uncertain, to submit a request via Google’s support page.

Battery concerns aren’t new for the Pixel 4a. Earlier this year, Google introduced a Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program, offering affected users in select countries — like the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Germany — options to address battery issues. However, Australia was not on that list. Now, this recall suggests that the problem may have been more widespread than initially acknowledged.

Google is handling the recall and will offer affected consumers a refund or a replacement device. However, not all Pixel 4a units are impacted. Users can check whether they are eligible for the appeasement via Google’s official support page.

The Pixel 4a, released in 2020, was already stretching past its prime when the update arrived. With aging batteries and increasing demands from software updates, it’s possible that the new firmware simply pushed some units over the edge.

This recall raises a bigger question: should aging smartphones receive updates that could stress their hardware? And did Google miscalculate the risk when rolling out this firmware?

For now, affected users in Australia should act fast — before their Pixel 4a turns into an unintended fire hazard.