Samsung halts sales of Galaxy Note 7; customers urged to stop using them

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Samsung says it is halting sales of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after a spate of fires involving new devices that were supposed to be safe replacements for recalled models.

Samsung Canada issued a statement late Monday asking all retail outlets to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 while the investigation is taking place.

The company, based in Mississauga, Ont., says Canadian consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device.

The electronics firm says further details, including a full refund at place of purchase, will be announced shortly.

For more information, Canadian consumers can contact 1-800-SAMSUNG.

South Korean safety authorities, meanwhile, say they found a possible new product defect in the new Note 7 that may not be related to its batteries.

One of the safety officials said they have no idea when they could identify what caused the newer Note 7 smartphones to catch fire.

Last month, Samsung said a tiny manufacturing error in the battery was to be blamed for fire.

— with files from The Associated Press