Samsung Electronics is in damage control mode. The world's largest smartphone retailer halted sales of its Galaxy Note 7 phone and recalled millions of units after 35 reports of the phones' batteries catching fire.
The phone, universally well-received by reviewers, was released as Samsung rival Apple (AAPL) struggled to live up to its record of innovation.
"As a gesture of appreciation, consumers will receive a $25 gift card or bill credit from select carrier retail outlets when choosing a Galaxy S7 family device or the Galaxy Note 7 within the exchange program," Samsung said in a Sept. 2 statement, noting that it was "taking great care" despite the "small number of reported incidents."
At issue are the phones' lithium-ion batteries, which have forced product recalls in many products and companies over the years. While more efficient than conventional batteries, they're also more flammable, and have caused issues in everything from computing technology to automotive engines to cooling systems.
Companies including Tesla (TSLA) and Boeing (BA) , Sony (SNE) to Hewlett Packard (HPQ) to name a few have been affected.
In Samsung's case, New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority is cautioning riders to turn the phones off before entering a subway station or boarding a bus.
Here's a look at some of the best-known cases of catastrophic product recalls, some of which also feature the dreaded lithium-ion battery.
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