According to Lexar, "Certain configurations of these products have a potential to overheat, creating potential risk of injury and property damage. The potential for the products to overheat was identified by Lexar during testing, and no reports of overheating during use have been reported flash drive owners. All affected products shipped to retailers have been returned to Lexar and most retail stores have already received replacement products and are actively selling them, Lexar said.

Asked how consumers can ensure they are buying the highest quality flash memory drives, Hellmold said it is wise to look for logo certifications and independent product test reports. Unsworth answers the same question by urging consumers to look for brands with widespread recognition such as SanDisk Corp. in Milpitas, Calif., and Kingston Technology Company Inc. in Fountain Valley, Calif. He also advises consumers not to go for the lowest price unless it's from a reputable source. "If you see a product that is too good to be true in terms of price," he said, "maybe it is."