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Sony Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Previous Fires

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Recall Date:
October 23, 2006

Recall Details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2006
Release #07-011
Firm's Recall Hotline: See Options Below
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contacts: Julie Vallese or Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7908 or (301) 504-7051
Sony Media Contact: Rick Clancy, (858) 942-3020

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Rechargeable, lithium ion batteries containing Sony cells used in Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation, Gateway Inc., Sony Electronics Inc., and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. notebook computers.

Units: About 340,000 batteries (an additional 3,080,000 battery packs were sold worldwide)

Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corp., of Japan

Hazard: These lithium ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been 16 reports of notebook computer batteries overheating, causing minor property damage and two minor burns. All of these reported incidents and injuries have been associated with earlier recalls of notebook computer batteries containing these Sony cells. There have been no incidents involving batteries sold by the notebook manufacturers participating in this announcement.

Description: These lithium ion batteries were sold with, or sold separately to be used with, the following notebook computer models:

Computer ManufacturerComputer ModelBattery Model
Fujitsu LifeBook: P1510, P1510D, P7120, P7120D, S7020, S7020D, C1320D, Q2010, T4210 CP229720-01, CP229725-01, CP234003-01, CP234019-01, CP255100-01, CP255108-01, CP267910-01, CP267915-01, CP283030-01, CP293420-01
Gateway Gateway: CX200, CX210, E100M, M250, M255, M280, M285, M465, M685, MP8708, NX260, NX510, NX560, NX860, NX100, MX1025, MX6918b, and MX1020j 916C4610F, 916C4720F, 916C4730F, 916C5010F, W230
Sony Sony VAIO: VGN-FE550G, VGN-FE570G, VGN-T240P, VGN-T250, VGN-T250P, VGN-T260P, VGN-T270P, VGN-T340P, VGN-T350, VGN-T350P, VGN-T360P, VGN-T370P VGP-BPS3A, VGP-BPS2B
Toshiba Portege: M300, M400/M405, S100/S105
Qosmio: G35
Satellite: R10/R15
Tecra: A2, M3, M4, M5, M6, and S3
PA3191U-4BRS, PA3356U-2BRS, PA3475U-1BRS, PA3191U-5BRS, PA3356U-3BRS, PA3476U-1BRS

The battery model can be found on the battery's label.

Sold: Directly by Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation, Gateway Inc., Sony Electronics Inc., and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. and through authorized distributors as part of a notebook computer. The computers sold for between $500 and $3000 and the batteries were also sold separately for between $75 and $200, during the following dates:

- Fujitsu - from June 2005 through October 2006.

- Gateway - from September 2005 through October 2006.

- Sony - from December 2004 through October 2006

- Toshiba - from September 2004 through October 2006

Manufactured in: Japan, China, Taiwan and Malaysia

Remedy: Consumers should remove the affected batteries from notebook computers until they contact their computer manufacturer and receive further instructions. Batteries covered by this program will be replaced free of charge. Consumers should use only batteries obtained from their computer manufacturer or from an authorized reseller.

Consumer Contact: Customers should contact the manufacturer of their notebook computer to determine if their battery is covered by this program and to request a replacement battery. The contact information for the participating manufacturers is:

- Fujitsu - (800) 8FUJITSU or www.computers.us.fujitsu.com/battery

- Gateway - (800) 292-6813 or www.gateway.com/battery

- Sony - (888) 476-6972 or http://esupport.sony.com/battery

- Toshiba - (800) 457-7777 or www.bxinfo.toshiba.com

 

The CPSC has also prepared a list of safety tips that consumers should follow when using a notebook computer. The list can be found at: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06271.html

 

Fujitsu

Picture of Fujitsu Notebook ComputerPicture of Fujitsu Recalled Battery

Gateway

Picture of Gateway Recalled Battery

Picture of Gateway Recalled Battery

 

Sony

Picture of Sony Notebook ComputerPicture of Sony Recalled Battery

Picture of Sony Recalled Battery latch

 

Toshiba

Picture of Toshiba Notebook Computer

Picture of Toshiba Recalled Batteries

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

If you are experiencing issues with a recall remedy or believe a company is being non-responsive to your remedy request, please use this form and explain the situation to CPSC.
About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

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