Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I ordered this lock June 30, 2014. It has served me fairly well. Until yesterday. I left the house, pressed the Schlage button to lock it, and it didn't work. I thought it was odd to be completely dead, so I replaced the batteries. After my brief 15 minute trip to the store, I returned and the door didn't open again. I unlocked the door with the backup key I keep in my car, and upon closing the door thought something was smelling a little odd. When I touched the battery case, it was hot. I immediately took the battery case off, and noticed the batteries in the cartridge were extremely hot, to the point where I was worried about them exploding. I disconnected the wires to the battery which PULLED THE CONNECTOR right out of the softened/melted battery cartridge. I'm now left with a dead door lock, and a broken battery cartridge, and rather worried to re-purchase this model. So, I get it, it's been good for 4 years. Nothing lasts forever. The lock is backed by a Lifetime Limited mechanical and finish warranty but unfortunately the electronics are limited to a 1-year warranty. Obviously it's past that. And if the lock just up and died, that's one thing. But for the lock to effectively melt on my door, and the batteries heat up beyond being too hot to touch, that has me worried. What if they exploded or caught fire or whatever else it is they do. I want to be able to leave my house knowing it'll still going to be there when I get back. With this incident fresh on my mind, all I can think is that this lock is a fire hazard.