Google Pixel 4a recalled over battery issue, but not in Canada

Google’s Pixel 4a was remarkable for its time, but if that’s your primary driver, it’s time for an upgrade. The handset recently received a battery update that downgraded the experience. The device is also being recalled in Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published a voluntary recall for the Pixel 4a because “an overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user.”

The recall sheds new light on the Pixel 4a’s surprise battery update from earlier this year. At the time, Google only mentioned that the update would address battery stability and performance, but didn’t mention overheating or fire risks.

Google automatically pushed the update to impacted Pixel 4a devices on Jan. 8, 2025. The update mitigates the risk of overheating.

The recall also mentions that this overheating problem doesn’t affect all Pixel 4a devices. Similarly, Google’s firmware update will only impact some Pixel 4a devices, with other 4a devices performing the same as before.

A Google spokesperson confirmed those details in a statement to MobileSyrup:

“Recently, the ACCC published a voluntary recall notice to Australian consumers regarding a battery performance issue that affected a limited subset of Pixel 4a devices. In January, Google announced and rolled out an automatic firmware update to address the issue. Owners should ensure that their device firmware is up to date, and they can continue using their devices. In addition, customers can check here to see if they are eligible for an appeasement from Google.”

To sum up, if your Pixel 4a received the firmware update in early January, your device shouldn’t be at risk, though it’s likely the battery update negatively impacted performance. Impacted Canadians can read our initial coverage of the Pixel 4a update to learn how to claim their appeasement from Google.