NEW YORK — Siemens issued a warning Friday that some of its cellphones may have a software problem that could cause them to emit a loud noise, possibly causing hearing loss for the phone user.

Some of the phones were sold in Canada, under the model number C65. Other models may have been sold in Canada if a retailer bought them from foreign distributors.

Siemens said it has not received any reports of injury from the possibly problematic phones, which also include models CX65, M65, S65, SL65, CV65, CT65, CXV65, CXT65.

The company said the malfunction happens only if, while the phone is in use, the battery runs down to the point that the phone automatically disconnects the call and begins to shut down.

When that happens, the phone may begin playing a very loud "shutdown melody."

In extreme cases, if the loud playback occurs while a user is still holding the phone to his or her ear, it may present some risk to the person's hearing, Siemens said.

To prevent the shutdown melody, users of the affected Siemens phones should select "switch off" under the heading "shutdown melody" under the "more melodies" menu on the phone.

Siemens said it is developing new equipment software that would prevent the problem and that it will be available to phone users when it becomes available, in the coming weeks.