iPod Nanos sparking while recharging?

Sparks and iPods—never a good combo. Officials in Japan say they're looking into claims that older-generation iPod Nanos might shoot off sparks while they're recharging.

The AP reports that Japanese officials have zeroed in on the lithium-ion battery of iPod Nano model number MA099J/A—an older, audio-only iPod (not the newer, video-enabled variety).

About 425,000 Nanos of the same make were shipped in Japan between September 2005 and September 2006. It's not clear if the sparky Nanos (well, the allegedly sparky Nanos) were sold outside of Japan, according to the AP.

Apparently, the problem first cropped up in January in Tokyo, and Apple notified Japanese authorities in March. No one was hurt in the incident.

That said, this isn't the first time I've heard of Nanos sparking while recharging. Gina posted back in October about a man who claims his iPod Nano exploded in his pants, and Gizmodo reported that another recharging Nano burst into flames last April.

Indeed, as the AP notes, lithium-ion batteries in general have been known to catch fire—never a good thing. Several car manufacturers have switched to other battery technologies.
 
So, should you quarantine your old Nano? I wouldn't panic quite yet. I've owned a similar-make Nano for a few years now, and it hasn't exploded in my pants yet. But you might want to think twice before recharging your Nano on a pile of oily rags.

Related:
Japan Investigates Possible iPod Defect [AP, via Yahoo! News]
iPod nano Bursts Into Flames Inside Man's Pants [Yahoo! Tech]