iPod touch camera modules failing?

File this one squarely under "R" for rumor, but both AppleInsider and HardMac are reporting that a production problem with the new camera module could impact the first shipments of the brand-new third generation iPod touches to arrive stateside.

HardMac reports:

According to one of our reliable source (however, it remains a rumor), Apple is facing problems with the production of the new iPod Touch. The issue would be linked to the new camera module. We did not get any further details, but the problem has been spotted in the first dozen of thousands units produced. Those units have been put aside.

Sources tell both sites that camera modules have been failing on the first units to arrive in the U.S. and that they are unsure whether the first batch of devices would make it past quality control and into the market.

It remains unclear how a delay like this would impact Wednesday's "It's only rock and roll" iPod event, but depending on severity, it could result in anything from a minor shipping delay to Apple bumping the camera-related iPods from the event altogether.