Reported Reactions

Devices › Automated external defibrillators (non-wearable)

Device brand name · Aed

HeartStart FR3: medical device reports filed with FDA

672 reports name it, 2015–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Philips Medical Systems. Product code MKJ.

672
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 60 a year
3
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
96.3%
classified as malfunction
96.8% across the product code
3.4%
classified as death, as reported
23 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 672 reports that name the brand "HeartStart FR3" (aed), received between April 2015 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Philips Medical Systems. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

3 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, with none in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are malfunction (96.3%), death (3.4%) and injury (0.3%); across all automated external defibrillators (non-wearable) reports (product code MKJ) death is recorded in 1.7% and malfunction in 96.8%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are failure of device to self-test (26.8%), device operates differently than expected (23.1%) and incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (11.5%). The patient problems coded most often are death, no patient involvement and cardiac arrest. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

011Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 0Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 0Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 0Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 0Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 0Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 0Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 0Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 1Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 1

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

0831652015: 3120152016: 8920162017: 9120172018: 10220182019: 15920192020: 16520202021: 3220212026: 32026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death3.4%23
Injury0.3%2
Malfunction96.3%647
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%672
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 269,686 reports carrying product code MKJ. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Failure of device to self-test18026.8%8.9%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly15523.1%11.8%
Incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings7711.5%1.3%
Defective devicethe device was defective517.6%1.2%
Therapeutic or diagnostic output failure284.2%0.8%
Failure to power up223.3%13%
Defective component192.8%0.6%
Premature discharge of battery172.5%1%
Device displays incorrect message162.4%11.6%
Battery problema problem with the battery131.9%2.5%
Insufficient device problem information101.5%0.5%
Protective measures problem81.2%0.2%
Inaudible or unclear audible prompt/feedback71%0.3%
No audible prompt/feedback71%0.5%
Failure to deliver shock/stimulation60.9%1.8%
Computer operating system problem50.7%0.8%
Failure to analyze signal50.7%0.5%
Output problem50.7%0.5%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used30.4%1.9%
Device sensing problem20.3%0.7%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term223.3%
No patient involvement71%
Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped30.4%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureHeartStart FR3Product code MKJAll MAUDE reports
Reports672269,68626,136,888
Share of that pool—0.2%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports34179
Classified as injury0.3%0.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction96.3%96.8%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99.3%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code MKJ

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
M Series27,11242.3%
Heartstart Mrx18,59200.7%
HeartStart MRx -EMS Defibrillator16,166330.8%
Heart Start XL15,944950.9%
R Series Defibrillator15,39300.9%
X Series13,9831,6922.7%
HeartStart XL+ Defibrillator/Monitor13,1882100.4%
Heartstart Onsite10,96400.8%
Aed Plus9,2254232.2%
Heartsine Samaritan 300p And Pad Pak8,19700.3%
E Series Defibrillator8,05201.5%
Lifepak R 15 Monitor/Defibrillator6,1174631.4%
Heartstart Frx5,97821.3%
Efficia Dfm1005,07600.6%
LIFEPAK 15 defibrillator/monitor4,7163691%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about HeartStart FR3 reports

How many FDA reports name HeartStart FR3?

672 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 3 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (96.3%), death (3.4%) and injury (0.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

failure of device to self-test (26.8%), device operates differently than expected (23.1%), incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (11.5%), defective device (7.6%) and therapeutic or diagnostic output failure (4.2%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that HeartStart FR3 was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.