USA: Dell recalls 4 million notebook batteries.
- 00:00:27
- ITN Source
USA: Dell recalls 4 million notebook batteries.
Dell Incorporated said on Monday (August 14) that it would recall 1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire, in the biggest recall in the 22-year history of the world's largest personal computer maker. Dell blamed the voluntary recall, issued with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on the lithium-ion batteries made by Sony Corporation unit Sony Energy Devices Corporation, which Dell said could, in rare cases, produce smoke and catch fire. No injuries have been tied to the defect involving the Dell-branded batteries, but the company has received six reports of batteries over-heating, causing damage to furniture and personal belongings, the safety commission said. Technology Hardware Analyst for Morningstar, Mark Lanyon said that the recall may not have caused any personal injuries, but it might cause some injury to Dell. Lanyon said: "I think product quality has been one of the issues plaguing the company and plaguing the notebook, or PC market in general. This is another black eye. But I think the larger problems over time have less to do with product quality and more Dell's willingness and ability to work with its customers. So we think this will probably pass over the near term and eventually the investments they're making in customer service will be the more important factor in the Dell story." According to Dell, a battery of the type involved in the recall was in a Dell laptop that erupted in flames in Osaka, Japan, recently. The incident was captured in photographs sent across the Internet. There has also been a number of recent reports of flaming Dell notebooks. About 2.7 million of the recalled notebooks are in the United States, according to Dell. The recalled batteries are also used by other computer makers, including Apple Computer Incorporated, which said it was looking into the issue. Hewlett-Packard Company said its notebooks were not affected by the recall.
ITN Source | August 16, 2006
