Charge 3 Display issues and it reset itself

[AustinSmithMT]

To all who are thinking about getting a Charge 3...Don’t. Fitbit has pushed out a numerous amount of defective products with no resolution in sight. Issues are as follows-

1. Tracker’s display shuts off. Vibrations and notifications may or may not be present/working. The only way to fix it is either to reset it or sometimes forcing a sync with the app. Fitbit’s resolution- Reset it or replace it. 

2. Heart rate spikes while walking. Some users have reported spikes from 60-75 range spiking into the mid 100-120 range while Manual heart rate stays in the original range. Fitbit’s resolution - Wear it differently/reset. 

3. Connected GPS connecting and disconnecting throughout run consistently. It connects, disconnects, and repeats every few seconds. Fitbit’s resolution - reset or replace/the issue is with your phone not our product. 

4. Charge 3 resets itself randomly (specifically durring sleep). I contacted support about the first issue(display inactive) and they said that the tracker logged upwards of 15-20 resets before I woke up. Needless to say, sleep was not tracked properly. 

These issues were on my third Charge 3 (I have made two returns due to issues stated above). Some issues were only on one of the devices I’ve had, but the display issue has been on all 3. Every time I contact support, they walk me through a process of a reset (even though I’ve declared each time that I have already reset it). They are instructed to go through the most basic steps of telling you to hold in a button. They then will tell you they can either send it to a higher echelon of support, or replace the item. Each time I chose to send it higher, I never received further word on the support ticket filed. So I chose to replace it. Each time, the same issues were present. Granted, some users have perfectly working products, a lot of users and consumers report these same issues and continue to get defective replacements like I have. I have returned my third Charge 3, and have moved on to Garmin products until Fitbit can get their act together and resolve these issues without a continuous stream of defective replacements. Replacing a defective product with another defective product has never been a good business model, yet Fitbit has seemed to be against the idea of a recall and solution. So buyer beware, don’t fall into the same rabbit hole of defective ness that me and so many others have fallen into. 

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[USAF-Larry]

Sorry it has not worked out for you, @AustinSmithMT.  I am on the original C3 that I received when they first came out, and it is still functioning very well.  It is surprising that you have had 3 of them all with the same problems.

[AustinSmithMT]

It’s not surprising though. They started posting about the issue in October and yet the products are still defective. You can find tons of reviews and articles saying the same thing that I have said. So surprising that I have had the same issue on three? No. Surprising that Fitbit is still working on it and have not figured out a solution yet? Yes. 

[austinjs28]

OMG! I'm so frustrated! I'm on my 3rd replacement and it just started acting up today...after having it for 2 months! I purchased the original one JUST a year ago (Oct. 2018). This is beyond frustrating!

[415Ribera]

Read and comprehend and read more it’s not surprising

[415Ribera]

I have had the same issue on two of them (C3).

[415Ribera]

I am on my third Fitbit charge three as well. The first one stop syncing and the battery Would died within 30 minutes every time and the second one Decided to completely stop working after three months of use coincidentally at the very end of the warranty. Warranty items are used items they’re are not new, only the items you purchase are new per law, warranty items or whatever they feel like giving you.   Also it’s a software product that is defective it’s not the watch they do not have software that works there great fitbit model doesn’t work.

 If it does work it’ll only work for a few months and then you have an expensive over $100 doorstop (I have three of them).
Instead of getting the charge 4 (yes I should’ve learned my lesson, now I’m going to get an Apple Watch) I went with another Fitbit  three because they gave me a discount on it because of the previous defective products that they sold me. Problems now are product is defective as well. This charge three won’t sync, misses activities (days) and active minutes, doesn’t track sleep and decides  when it doesn’t want to sync with the app ( always requiring a reboot of the watch and the phone and the app, customer shouldn’t have to do this with such an expense of product).

I wish that they would’ve fixed the current issues In the charge 3 before moving on to charge 4 (people are reporting the same and defects in charge 4) and carrying their defective issues onto the next product in their life line.

Fit your mistakes Fitbit before moving onto the next.

[415Ribera]

Lots of people have had several charge threes maybe you’re just not a heavy user And I don’t need to stats that everybody else does.

[Yaseen_mu]

I have had the same issue. First tracker was replaced during warranty period. 2nd tracker got damaged after this period and support service didnt do anything to help. DO NOT BUY THEIR PRODUCTS. 

Ps after i had issues with the first tracker i was taking extra precautions like not letting the tracker get wet etc. 

[Thervc]

I had issues with a defective battery TWICE.  My first one lasted 6 months. My second one lasted 8 months before it stopped holding a charge.  Because that takes me past the one year warranty fitbit refuses to replace.  They did however offer me a discount but only if I buy the same faulty charger.  That doesn't make any sense!!  Their words, "

[Thervc]

Here are their words:
"We'd like to share with you that these issues are not expected from the tracker but can happen due to factors that are beyond human control. Somehow, there are cases that the tracker's life expectancy has a shorter life compare to other, that's why when anomalies such this occur, we always make sure our team is informed about it so that we can keep moving forward in improving our products and services."

[415Ribera]

Thank you for acknowledging/admitting that Fitbit knowingly sells customers a defective product.

[LabRatatouille]

Add to that the exercise  auto tracker quit working. And it keeps bringing up old texts & calendar reminders at random. I just spent an unimpressive 25 minutes with a customer service rep that ended up telling me to reset it. Then tells me to use my phone & select swim. When I asked how that was an answer to the auto start not working her reply was that's what we do. 

Completely unimpressed with the product.

[JB5000]

Fitbit Charge 3 doesn’t even last a year.  I received a device from my employer and eight months later it started vibrating hard in my wrist and then the battery instantly depleted to zero.  I tried to charge it but after a full charge, the battery would immediately deplete again.  Fitbit sent me a new battery but then nine months later the device did exactly the same thing .... hard vibration on my wrist and then instant battery depletion to zero.  Now the battery has to be recharged constantly whereas a full charge used to last over ten days.  Fitbit now tells me that even though their product doesn’t even last one year, it is out of warranty and they want to give me a thirty percent coupon to buy a new device.  Why would I buy a new device when the first two (original and then battery replacement) only lasted eight months and nine months respectively.  This is a defective product.  From all the comments I’ve read here today, it seems obvious that Fitbit is aware there is a problem.

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello everyone. @JB5000. Welcome to the community forums. 

I'm very sorry for this inconvenience and thank you very much for taking the time to provide detailed information and feedback. Please note that our team is always working to enhance your experience and your feedback is a big part of that process. 

On a side note, I'd like to let you know that replacement devices are provided for products that are within the warranty period. If your original Charge 3 is no longer under warranty a discount could be an available option.  For more information about our warranty policy, I recommend visiting the following link: https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/legal/returns-and-warranty. 

In addition, I was able to see that you reached out to our Support Team and they have provided information regarding your inquiries and concerns. If you still have additional questions or inquiries, I recommend replying back to your case so they can continue working on your case. 

See you around.