Battery swells, drains while the camera is off, or dies early
High risk — the wrong move here turns a cheap problem into an expensive one. A swollen lithium cell is a fire risk. Do not charge it, and do not put it in household waste.
What causes it
- Reports cluster heavily on the DB-120 introduced with the GR IV, but swelling is a lithium-cell failure mode and is not exclusive to it — owners report it on third-party DB-110 cells too. No manufacturer cause has been published for either battery.
- Some reports involve third-party cells rather than the official DB-120.
- Separate from swelling, several owners report the battery draining while the camera is powered off.
What to try, in order
High risk — the wrong move here turns a cheap problem into an expensive one.
- Stop using a swollen cell immediately — a swollen lithium battery is a fire risk and must not be charged.
- Contact Ricoh support; several owners report replacement under warranty.
- Dispose of swollen cells at a battery recycling point, never in household waste.
How confident are we?
Assembled from owner reports. Ricoh has published no cause for this one.
Not your problem?
Sources
Reported by a credible outlet, not yet confirmed by the manufacturer.
Last verified .