BlendJet’s Fix to Its Portable Blender Passes CR's Durability Test
Upgrades to the popular blender’s base include improvements to the blade
In new tests, Consumer Reports found that the blades on the reconfigured base of the popular BlendJet 2 portable blender did not break when subjected to the same stresses that caused the blade to break off in a version of the product tested this summer.
The blender, which CR retested Jan. 2, was among those with a redesigned base introduced a few months before 4.8 million of the popular blenders were recalled by the company Dec. 28.
Photos: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports Photos: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports
In announcing the recall, the CPSC recommended that consumers immediately stop using the recalled blenders and contact BlendJet for a free replacement of the blender’s base unit. The recall covers BlendJet 2 blenders with a serial number that begins with four digits between 5201 and 5542. Consumers can identify blenders under recall by visiting the company’s recall page or entering the serial number of their product into BlendJet’s serial number search tool. At the time of the recall, the CPSC told CR that the agency had reviewed BlendJet’s fix for its portable blender and that the remedy “addresses the hazard in a way that will protect consumers.”
According to the CPSC, BlendJet has received about 329 reports of blades breaking during use, and 17 reports of the blender overheating or causing fires that resulted in property damage claims totaling approximately $150,000. The company also received about 49 reports of minor burns, and one report of a laceration.
The company told CR that blenders with the reconfigured base were already on store shelves. Those bases have a serial number that begins with four digits of 5543 or higher.
CR’s Tests of the BlendJet 2
Among evaluations CR performed on the original BlendJet 2 was a durability test involving crushed ice in which the blender’s blade broke off after 38 minutes of operation.
The blade did not break in tests performed Jan. 2 on a blender with the redesigned base. José Amézquita, who led testing for CR’s Rapid Response team, says that the metal blade on the new base appeared to be slightly thicker, and that the blade folded a bit further away from its serrated teeth than the previous version. “Even though the metal is only a fraction of a millimeter thicker, the combination of the fold being away from the serration and the small increase in thickness of the blade appears to have worked,” Amézquita says.
Photos: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports Photos: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports
As with the earlier version, Amézquita also observed the new BlendJet 2 while charging, and found no sign of overheating in the base or the charging cable. He also said that the lightweight blender still shakes initially during operation, as did the original.
“This is good news for consumers, and we were very happy to see the manufacturer make changes to the blender,” Amézquita said of the findings. “Safety improvements like this cannot be possible without the active participation of consumers when they publicly report incidents.”
BlendJet spokesperson Ethan Rasiel confirmed the changes to the blender’s design. “We updated the base of the BlendJet 2 to feature thicker blades and an improved electrical configuration,” he said. Rasiel also noted that the blender’s redesign included resettable fuses in the cable and base to protect against the use of a low-quality charging brick by consumers. But he reiterated that “customers should only use high-quality charging bricks and the included USB-C cable or other certified USB-C cable to charge the device.”
Recalled blenders included some collectible designs and limited editions, such as a series of multicolored Lisa Frank designs with iridescent jars. Consumers on social media expressed disappointment and frustration that the solid-colored bases they received under the recall don’t match the ones for which they paid a premium.
But Rasiel says BlendJet is prioritizing replacing bases over replacing licensed designs. “Due to the nature of our limited term licensing agreements, we do not have an unlimited ability to provide the same design when replacing the base,” said Rasiel. “We hope customers understand that limitation.” He said the company is providing replacements in black, mint and lavender, and is working to make additional replacement colors available over time.
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