The Food & Drug Administration launched an investigation into possibly defective medical device power cords, made by Electri-Cord Manufacturing Co., that were used in products made by Abbott and Hospira.

The federal watchdog agency said it’s examining 122 reports of “sparking, charring, and fires from the power cords” received from the device makers, which said the problem could stem from the cords’ prongs cracking and failing at or inside the plug.

“FDA is aware that Electri-cord has supplied the affected power cords to other medical device manufacturers,” according to a press release. “The agency is now attempting to determine which devices may be equipped with these cords.”

Electri-Cord GM Dennis McDonald told the Reuters news service that the company received only 26 cord failure reports, out of about 2 million the company has shipped.

Cords examined after the incidents “show signs of significant abuse in their use environment … it’s not a manufacturing defect,” McDonald told the news service.

In August, Hospira said it was voluntarily recalling certain power cords used with some of its infusion pumps and related products; the FDA sent a letter to Hospira warning the company to improve its response to the problems.

Abbott spokesman Scott Stoffel told Reuters that its recall affected the company’s Flexiflo Quantum adult feeding tube pumps and that Abbott is working with customers to fix or replace the devices.

“We’ve received no reports of serious health or safety incidents,” Stoffel said.