PlainRecalls

HeartWare Ventricular Assist System: HeartWare Battery, Lithium Ion, 14.8 V, Rx only. Catalog 1650 (US) and 1650, 1650-DE and A00035 (OUS) Product Usage: Used as a bridge-to-cardiac transplantation in patients who are at risk of death from refractory end-stage left ventricular heart failure. The HeartWare Ventricular Assist System is designed for in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings, including transportation via fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter.

Reported: July 20, 2016 Initiated: January 7, 2016 #Z-1887-2016 18, 631 units

Heartware, Inc. issued this FDA Devices recall on July 20, 2016. Classified as Critical severity (Class I). Approximately 18, 631 units are affected. The recall was issued because: Heartware Ventricular Assist System Battery Cell experiencing premature depletion.. This recall notice is sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-1887-2016) was formally reported on July 20, 2016, with the manufacturer initiating the action on January 7, 2016. It is classified under Critical severity (Class I), with a current status of Terminated. Heartware, Inc. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Miami Lakes, FL. Federal records indicate 18, 631 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Heartware Ventricular Assist System Battery Cell experiencing premature depletion. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: US Nationwide distribution in the states of AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and Washington D.C.. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by FDA Devices. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 10 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Critical

Units Affected

18, 631

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

HeartWare Ventricular Assist System: HeartWare Battery, Lithium Ion, 14.8 V, Rx only. Catalog 1650 (US) and 1650, 1650-DE and A00035 (OUS) Product Usage: Used as a bridge-to-cardiac transplantation in patients who are at risk of death from refractory end-stage left ventricular heart failure. The HeartWare Ventricular Assist System is designed for in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings, including transportation via fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter.

Reason for Recall

Heartware Ventricular Assist System Battery Cell experiencing premature depletion.

Details

Recalling Firm
Heartware, Inc.
Units Affected
18, 631
Distribution
US Nationwide distribution in the states of AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and Washington D.C.
Location
Miami Lakes, FL

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-1887-2016
Date reported July 20, 2016
Date initiated January 7, 2016
Recalling firm Heartware, Inc.
Units affected 18, 631
Distribution US Nationwide distribution in the states of AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and Washington D.C.

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

Scale of Impact

18, 631 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
HeartWare Ventricular Assist System: HeartWare Battery, Lithium Ion, 14.8 V, Rx only. Catalog 1650 (US) and 1650, 1650-DE and A00035 (OUS) Product Usage: Used as a bridge-to-cardiac transplantation in patients who are at risk of death from refractory end-stage left ventricular heart failure. The HeartWare Ventricular Assist System is designed for in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings, including transportation via fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter.. Recalled by Heartware, Inc.. Units affected: 18, 631.
Why was this product recalled?
Heartware Ventricular Assist System Battery Cell experiencing premature depletion.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on July 20, 2016. Severity: Critical. Recall number: Z-1887-2016.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: US Nationwide distribution in the states of AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and Washington D.C..
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-1887-2016) 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.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as critical severity, meaning the product carries a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

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

Compare this recall with Endo-Model Replacement Plateau; Item Number: 15-0027/11; →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).