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Sony, HP, Dell Recall Laptop Batteries

by , 8:40 AM EDT, October 31st, 2008

Sony's recurring problems with laptop batteries has started up again, so it is recalling some 100,000 batteries from around the world. The recall impacts HP, Dell and Toshiba and includes batteries that were produced between October 2004 and June 2005.

Apparently the batteries pose a potential fire hazard due to overheating. None of the batteries in this recall are being used in Apple laptops.

Sony suffered a black eye in 2006 when it was forced to recall thousands of batteries from a long list of laptop manufacturers, including Apple. This time, however, the recall appears to impact a substantially smaller number of computers and companies.

Additional information about the voluntary recall is available at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: SONY

Sony is a great company and I never had any any problems with any any of their products

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Lithium Toxicity is what I was diagnosed with from a leaked

I was diagnosed with lithium toxicity from a leaked lithium ion battery.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: troll!

Quote
Guest wrote:
Sony is a great company and I never had any any problems with any any of their products


this comments sounds like a company-paid shill.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: LITHIUM TOXICITY

Is for people who can't handle their drinks.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Whatever - More Apple jerking.

So all the apple laptops that almost always overheat... customers were just stuck with those things....

And while the above comment about never having a problem with sony sound hoaky... its kinda true.

Usually its Apple who has batteries that always get fricken hot and have issues.

This time not Apple, but since when the hell does Apple really care even when heaps of their costumers complain?!?!?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Sony and Apple

Quote
Guest wrote:

Usually its Apple who has batteries that always get fricken hot and have issues.


That was when they were using Sony's tech (http://news.cnet.com/2100-1041_3-6109198.html).

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

That's it from now on going forward, I'll get my battery replaced by Batteries Plus

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Plasma tv's having burnt in images, Sony batteries being recalled over 3 years ago, playstation 2's having reading disk issues, their own Vio's had were recalled not more than 4 months ago.
Yeah i'de say sony's reputation is equalling up to the "made in china" slogan.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

"Yeah i'de say sony's reputation is equalling up to the "made in china" slogan."

Hey, let's start making batteries and VCR's and toys in the USA again and fix freaking Wall Street. The rest of the world is probably saying life sucks is equalling up to the "made in the USA" or "caused by the Republican party" slogan. (Maybe we can also learn how to spell, capitalize and type.)

Close Name:geoduck Posts: 1922 Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Subject:

Quote
Usually its Apple who has batteries that always get fricken hot and have issues.

There have been far more Dells, HPs, Acers, Toshibas, and Sonys recalled for battery issues including overheating than Apple laptops. The battery issue has hit all makes.

Quote
This time not Apple, but since when the hell does Apple really care even when heaps of their costumers complain?!?!?

Your implication that Apple does not care about quality issues and doesn't listen to its customers about such issues is simply hollow. A company who's products have been rated as high as Apple's have for years does not get there by turning out junk and not listening to the complaints.
Tech Support http://www.macworld.com/article/133293/2008/05/consumer.html
Customer Satisfaction
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/08/14/apple_dell_slip_in_latest_customer_satisfaction_rankings.html

Apple is always at or near the top in customer satifaction, and product quality.

And to the other Guest that said they were going to get their replacement from BatteriesPlus. I have looked into BatteriesPlus for various products, including an out of warrantee PowerBook. First I've found them to be painfully expensive, far more than OEM sources. Secondly you will have a good time trying to find out what make and model of cells they put in your 'book. There's no guarantee they aren't the very ones that are being recalled. Lastly if the hand built, not tested for use in your particular laptop has a problem, the non-OEM battery will quite possibly void the warrantee.

But hey good luck with that.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: @Geoduck

Geoduck ? Find it hard to believe that you can?t get info (with a little digging) on the cells in particular brand of battery. Especially if they don?t use the sony cells that are being recalled. I would think they would be ecstatic to tell you if they do not use the problem ones. Also, you may want to check out some consumer advocacy sites. It is against the law for a manufacturer to void a warranty based upon use of non-oem replacement parts.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: To Geoduck

Geoduck ? Find it hard to believe that you can?t get info (with a little digging) on the cells in particular brand of battery. Especially if they don?t use the sony cells that are being recalled. I would think they would be ecstatic to tell you if they do not use the problem ones. Also, you may want to check out some consumer advocacy sites. It is against the law for a manufacturer to void a warranty based upon use of non-oem replacement parts.

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