The Yoto Mini was first recalled in April 2024 and only certain Yoto Minis produced in 2021 to 2023 are affected. Click here for more information.
If you’re a parent to a young child, there’s a good chance you’ve either heard of or own a Yoto.
The popular Bluetooth speaker device was designed for kids, allowing them to easily play stories, music, podcasts and more by simply inserting an NFC-equipped card.
Earlier in 2024, the company announced a recall due to an issue with the lithium-ion battery inside certain batches of the Yoto Mini speaker produced between 2021 to 2023.
This week, the company announced additional steps were being taken to ensure affected Yoto Minis were fixed and safe for use.
Read on for everything you need to now about the Yoto Mini recall in Canada.
Why was the Yoto Mini recalled?
The Yoto Mini was first recalled in April 2024, when the company learned of rare cases where the speakers began overheating.
According to a recall notice issued April 11, Yoto had received six reports from U.S. customers and one from a U.K. customer about their speakers overheating or melting. There were no injuries reported.
At the time, about 251,165 Yoto Minis had been sold in the U.S. and about 18,932 sold in Canada. In total, about 340,000 Yotos had been sold globally.
The company determined that the issue was to do with the lithium-ion battery that came from a specific supplier. Yoto then halted production using the old supplier and sought a new supplier to provide batteries for the devices.
As a solution, the company sent out free USB-C smart cables to all affected customers, along with a $30 CAD credit after customers registered proof that they had cut their old cable and ordered a new one. It also pushed out software updates that the company says has been able to mitigate the issue.
So what’s the deal with the new recall this week?
According to the company, five more cases of Yoto Minis overheating have been reported in late 2024.
In two of the cases, the Yoto Minis had batteries that had been fully drained and the smart cable was unable to communicate with the speaker. In the other three cases, the Yoto Minis were not being charged using the approved smart cable.
Which Yoto Minis after affected?
Only Yoto Minis produced in 2021 to 2023, with a serial number starting with 1FE, 2FE, 3FE, 4FE, 5FE, 6FE, 7FE, or 8FE are impacted.
The 14 digit serial number can be found on the base of the unit.
What solution are they offering to Yoto customers?
Customers who order a battery replacement kit and then register their repaired device will also receive a $30 CAD credit to use on Yoto purchases through their website.
Where can I order the battery replacement kit?
If you have previously registered to receive the smart cable, you should receive an email outlining the steps to ordering the replacement kit.
When I will receive my battery replacement kit?
Yoto customers in the U.S. and Canada will be contacted beginning Dec. 12, with kits sent out in the coming days and weeks through a tracked courier service.
Customers elsewhere, including in the U.K., can order their free kit now but supplies won’t be sent out to those regions outside North America until early 2025.
Do I still have to cut my new smart cable?
No, you do not. You can and should continue to use the smart cable as normal.
Once I replace the battery, do I still need to use the smart cable to charge or can I use any USB-C cable?
“Once the battery has been replaced and registered you won’t necessarily have to use the Yoto Mini Smart Cable but we do advise customers to continue to use it as it provides an additional layer of protection (against over-voltage and battery management),” said the company in its information bulletin shared Dec. 12.
“The Yoto Mini Smart Cable will not limit the new battery once replaced.”
When do I get my $30 CAD credit?
The $30 CAD credit will be emailed to you 45 days after you’ve registered your batter replacement through Yoto’s online portal.