Apple Computer on Thursday recalled 1.8 million Sony-built laptop batteries that could overheat and catch fire. Apple says it has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two consumers who received minor burns after handling overheated computers.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries include cells manufactured by Sony and were sold with the company’s 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4 notebooks between October 2003 and August 2006.
Affected customers can contact Apple at (800) 275-2273 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday through Sunday or log on to Apple’s Web site to check the battery’s serial number and request a replacement battery.
Apple’s current line of 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks have been cleared, the CPSC said, in a separate announcement. They do not pose any risks to customers.
Apple’s recall comes 10 days after Dell’s recall of 4.1 million faulty laptop batteries also made by Sony — the largest electronics recall in the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s history. Sony is estimating the overall cost in supporting Apple and Dell’s battery recall program could run $172.1 million to $258.1 million.
Engadget says Apple, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and other laptop manufacturers are planning to hold a summit in San Jose, California with the intent to tackle some of the issues associated with li-ion cells powering today’s portables, and to come to some agreement about standards for manufacturing processes and quality control.
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