After finding faults with its European 5W power adapter for charging iPhone 3GS, 4, and 4S models that were shipped between October 2009 and September 2012, Apple has opened up an exchange program that will allow customers with faulty models to exchange them for free.
The models affected are the ones labeled “A1300” on the plug surface of the adapter. These also have a bold “CE” label instead of the “CE” label being in outlined font. The following image, provided by Apple, shows what to look for in the faulty adapters.
The problems Apple found with these adapters is they may overhead and pose a safety risk, which suggests the possibility of fire or skin burn when used under normal or expected conditions. This may have been from faulty components used, or an Apple design flaw that has been rectified in the replacement version.
Use this visual guide (provided by Apple) to identify the faulty power adapter.
If you have one of these adapters, then you can take it to an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to have it replaced. You will need to bring your iPhone to verify its serial number as part of the exchange process. It does not appear Apple is offering a way to do this through its support channels on the internet, and has not provided a time frame for this exchange program.
