GoPro recalls Karma drone because of ‘performance issues’

MANILA, Philippines – We’ve seen Samsung phones and washing machines, even Soylent bars, getting recalled after consumer complaints. And now, GoPro has also told customers to return one of its own immediately.

The product in question: The action-cam maker’s first-ever drone, called Karma, which retails for $799 and has only been on the market since Oct 23, 2016. GoPro said a “performance issue” in units sold so far can cause them to lose power while in the air, likely sending them tumbling out of the sky.

A statement on its official website read:

GoPro is committed to providing our customers with great product experiences. To honor this commitment, we have recalled Karma until we resolve a performance issue related to a loss of power during operation. We plan to resume shipment of Karma once the issue is addressed.

Meanwhile, CEO Nick Woodman, in a press release, said GoPro is “working in close coordination with both the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Federal Aviation Administration.” He added: “We are very sorry to have inconvenienced our customers and we are taking every step to make the return and refund process as easy as possible.”

A recalled Karma drone can be returned to GoPro directly or to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. At the moment, the company isn’t offering replacements. It has also advised anyone who has bought a Karma against keeping it, even if it appears to be working fine. Those who still want to own the lightweight, foldable drone will have to wait until shipments resume after the issue is fixed.

During last week’s earnings call, company executives acknowledged concerns over the Karma, and yet, at the time, it made no mention of a potential recall. It’s the latest sour news for GoPro, which has recently seen its sales fall off a cliff, down 40 percent from the same period last year.