Sony recalls 340,000 batteries.

By Paul | Oct 31, 2008

Sony Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Previous Fires

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

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.

[via U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]

This is something that is going to hit Sony hard. The recall affects some Fujitsu, Gateway Toshiba, and Sony Laptops. If your worried about your laptop go to the site and see if your have the right laptop. It only effects people who bought there laptop from Oct 2004 to Oct 2006, before or after that date you will not have to worry. If in Doubt call your manufacture and find out.

Some other things to do is also remember to back up your data and if your not using your laptop battery if at all possible just take the battery out.