Honestly, NO. I have tested the Hootie function a few times, and it worked perfectly every time. I haven't experienced a malfunction, except for a dead battery. One possible explanation for the Hootie going off randomly could be improper reassembly after battery replacement, resulting in the pin not being securely held. Another thought is that if the Hootie is attached to a keychain that is dragged and dropped frequently, the pin mechanism might get damaged, which is normal to expect after such use. In my experience with my Hootie, the pin was held very firmly. I really had to apply force to pull it out and also to reinsert the pin. Thanks for addressing this concern.