Apple Updates Japan Site for Overheating iPod nanos

Apple updated its Web site in Japan on Tuesday to comply with local government demands that the company offer support information for first generation iPod nano owners that my be dealing with overheating battery issues. The order was issued by Japan’s Trade Ministry in response to complaints from iPod nano users.

Apple was instructed post a statement on its website in Japan detailing how users suffering from first generation nano battery overheating issues can get the battery replaced. According to the Trade Ministry, there have been 27 incidents where original iPod nanos overheated since their introduction in 2005.

According to Apple, all of the incidents can be traced to batteries supplied from a single source. Apple has promised to fix the problem for customers, which presumably means the company will either replace the faulty batteries, or give users a refurbished or new iPod nano.

Reports of first generation iPod nanos overheating in Japan first began appearing on 2008. In some cases, the iPod nanos began to smoke, too.

Apple stated that it “determined that in very rare cases batteries in first generation iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 can overheat causing failure and deformation of the iPod nano” when the cases were first reported.

Apple also posted a Knowledge Base support article in 2009 advising customers experiencing overheating issues to contact AppleCare for assistance. That article was most recently updated yesterday on August 10 (English translation).

[Thanks to AFP for the heads up.]