HYTE has issued a comprehensive recall for its THICC Q80 Trio liquid CPU cooler following numerous reports of coolant leaks. The defect, identified as a fragile internal component susceptible to damage during shipping, can lead to leaks even before the product is unboxed. The company is urging all owners to immediately uninstall the cooler to prevent potential damage to their PC hardware.
Key Takeaways
- Product Affected: HYTE THICC Q80 Trio liquid CPU cooler.
- Issue: Fragile internal component prone to damage during transport, causing coolant leaks.
- Action: Immediate recall and stop-use advisory issued by HYTE.
- Refunds: Full refunds offered for direct purchases; resellers to manage refunds for other customers.
- Unaffected Models: The THICC Q60 cooler, with a different design, is not impacted.
The Coolant Leak Defect
Since its launch in January 2025, HYTE has received user reports detailing coolant leakage in the packaging of some THICC Q80 Trio units upon delivery. Subsequent failure analysis conducted by HYTE’s manufacturing partner confirmed a fragile internal component that can be damaged during transit. This damage is internal and not visible to the end-user, but it can lead to the cooler malfunctioning or failing entirely, potentially causing significant damage to other PC components.
Immediate Action Required
HYTE is taking a proactive approach by recalling all THICC Q80 Trio coolers currently on the market, as the exact number of affected units remains unknown. The company strongly advises all users to cease using the cooler and remove it from their systems immediately. Distributors and resellers have also been instructed to halt the sale and use of the affected product.
Here is the full statement from HYTE…
Following the launch of HYTE’s THICC Q80 Trio liquid cooler, we received user reports of coolant leakage in some units’ packaging upon delivery. The affected products were promptly secured and sent to our manufacturer for failure analysis.
The report identified a fragile internal component that is susceptible to damage during transport. The number of impacted units is presently unknown. The damage to these coolers is internal and invisible to the end user, but may cause these liquid coolers not to function or to fail. This issue does not affect the previously released THICC Q60, which uses a different design.
Effective immediately, HYTE is directing all users to cease using the THICC Q80 Trio AIO, and to remove the cooler from their system immediately. Distributors and resellers have been notified to cease using and selling the Q80. Customers who purchased directly from HYTE.com will receive full refunds and instructions on how to safely dispose of the AIO soon. We will also notify authorized resellers to reach out to customers who have purchased this product on next steps.
The HYTE team would also like to apologize for any issues and complications caused by the latest development on the THICC Q80 Trio AIO. We are working to make this right with the community, and will be in touch with impacted customers on next steps as soon as possible.
Refund Process
Customers who purchased the THICC Q80 Trio directly from HYTE’s website will receive a full refund and instructions on how to safely dispose of the cooler. For those who purchased through authorized resellers, the resellers will be contacting customers with information on the next steps for refunds and returns. HYTE has apologized for any inconvenience caused by this defect and is committed to resolving the issue for its community.
THICC Q60 Remains Unaffected
It is important to note that this recall specifically applies only to the THICC Q80 Trio model. HYTE has clarified that the earlier THICC Q60 cooler, which features a different internal design, is not affected by this coolant leak defect and remains safe for use.
Via HYTE
