PlainRecalls
CriticalClass ITerminated

FDA Devices recall · Reported December 14, 2016

5000 Series Freedom Drivers. Freedom Driver System for Temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t). Part number 595000-001

The Main Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) of the affected Freedom Drivers may fail and cause the Freedom Driver to stop functioning without visual or audible alarms, resultin…

Recall #
Z-0659-2017
Affected scope
5
Initiated
October 21, 2016
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
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SynCardia Systems Inc. recalled 5000 Series Freedom Drivers. Freedom Driver System for Temporary Total Artificial Heart … - a critical-severity action.

5000 Series Freedom Drivers. Freedom Driver System for Temporary Total Artificial Heart … was recalled by SynCardia Systems Inc. in December 14, 2016. Reason: The Main Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) of the affected Freedom Drivers may fail and cause the Freedom…. Check the official notice for the remedy. Verify recall #Z-0659-2017 with the FDA Devices before acting.

The recall

SynCardia Systems Inc. issued this critical-severity FDA Devices recall-The Main Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) of the affected Freedom Drivers may fail and cause the Freedom….

Critical
severity level
5 units
affected scope
Class I
classification
December 14, 2016
reported

Sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Verify recall #Z-0659-2017 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-0659-2017) was formally reported on December 14, 2016, with the manufacturer initiating the action on October 21, 2016. It is classified under Critical severity (Class I), with a current status of Terminated. SynCardia Systems Inc. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Tucson, AZ. Federal records list the affected scope as 5.

The documented reason for this recall is: The Main Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) of the affected Freedom Drivers may fail and cause the Freedom Driver to stop functioning without visual or audible alarms, resulting in the loss of life-sustaining functio… Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: US distribution to Virginia and Arizona.. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 3 from FDA Devices - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Medical Devices recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 40,322 medical devices recalls on record

-1,00001,0002,0003,0004,000 20052008201120142017202020232026 1,248
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified high severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Critical

Affected scope

5

Related Recalls

6

3 from same agency

Product description

5000 Series Freedom Drivers. Freedom Driver System for Temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t). Part number 595000-001

Reason for recall

The Main Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) of the affected Freedom Drivers may fail and cause the Freedom Driver to stop functioning without visual or audible alarms, resulting in the loss of life-sustaining function.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the FDA Devices recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Severity class Critical (Class I)
Status Terminated
Recall number Z-0659-2017
Date reported December 14, 2016
Date initiated October 21, 2016
Recalling firm SynCardia Systems Inc.
Firm location Tucson, AZ
Affected scope 5
Distribution US distribution to Virginia and Arizona.

Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scale of Impact

5 units affected - limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) -
Large-scale (100K – 1M units) -
Massive (≥1M units) -

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration filings.

What to do with this recall

Match your product against the recall record, then act on the agency remedy.

  • Check the recall number (Z-0659-2017) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status with FDA Devices before acting, recall details can be updated.
  • This is a Class I (high-risk) recall, stop using the product immediately and follow the disposal or return instructions. What to do next

This page summarizes the official FDA Devices record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
5000 Series Freedom Drivers. Freedom Driver System for Temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t). Part number 595000-001. Recalled by SynCardia Systems Inc.. Units affected: 5.
Why was this product recalled?
The Main Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) of the affected Freedom Drivers may fail and cause the Freedom Driver to stop functioning without visual or audible alarms, resulting in the loss of life-sustaining function.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on December 14, 2016. Severity: Critical. Recall number: Z-0659-2017.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: US distribution to Virginia and Arizona..
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-0659-2017) against your product. Visit the official FDA Devices website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
Should I stop using a recalled medication or medical device?
Do not stop using a recalled medication or device without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abruptly discontinuing treatment could pose its own health risks. Your doctor can advise on alternatives or whether the recall applies to your specific product lot. Check the recall number and lot information against your product packaging.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category, useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: FDA Devices, reported December 14, 2016. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.