Safety notices and recalls

***We will be updating this page to reflect laptop battery recalls as they are announced.  Please check back.  If your laptop is manufactured by a company not listed here, you may still want to check that manufacturer's Web site just in case.

For information about laptop battery safety, click here. 

HP laptop batteries

Thus far, HP has indicated that it will not be recalling any batteries.

Fujitsu laptop batteries

October 2006 - Fujitsu Siemens Computers has announced a battery exchange program on lithium-ion batteries in certain AMILO notebooks.  Check the Fujitsu-Siemens Web site for details. 

Sony laptop batteries

October 2006 - Sony Corporation is the largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for laptops, and it is also the manufacturer of most of the recalled batteries used in other vendors' laptop systems.  Sony has initiated a recall of its own, for these same batteries.  For more information, and to sign up for notification about recalls, visit the Sony Web site.

Sony has not yet indicated if it will recall any of its own VAIO laptops. 

Lenovo-IBM ThinkPad batteries

October 2006 - Lenovo and IBM Corporation have announced the recall of certain lithium-ion batteries, used in the following models of ThinkPad systems, sold between February 2005 and September 2006.

  • ThinkPad R51e, R52, R60, R60e
  • ThinkPad T43, T43p, T60, T60p
  • ThinkPad X60, X60s

Customers who ordered additional batteries or received replacement batteries for the systems listed below between February 2005 and September 2006 should also check the battery bar code number to determine if their battery is being recalled.

  • ThinkPad R50, R50e, R50p, R51
  • ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p

Lenovo is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has initiated a worldwide exchange program to provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge.

Not all of these Lenovo-IBM models used the recalled batteries.  To check if your particular battery is affected by the recall, and to find details on the recall/exchange process if it is, visit the Lenovo Web site.

Toshiba Satellite/Tecra batteries

October 2006 - Toshiba has announced the recall of certain batteries used in its Satellite and Tecra laptops, manufactured between March and May of 2006. The affected batteries simply stop working, i.e. they stop accepting a charge, and they no longer supply power to the computer.  Other battery models are being recalled because of overheating issues.

The affected batteries were sold with several Toshiba portable computer models, and were also sold as accessories. Toshiba is offering to replace affected batteries with new batteries, free of charge. This offer extends to affected batteries only - those that are known to have this problem. Toshiba will replace affected batteries whether or not they have actually failed.

The affected batteries were included in certain of the following Toshiba portable computer models:

  • Satellite A100/A105
  • Satellite M50/M55 
  • Satellite M100/M105
  • Tecra A6
  • Tecra A7 Not all of these Toshiba models used the recalled batteries.  To check if your particular battery is affected by the recall, and to find details on the recall/exchange process if it is, visit the Toshiba Web site.

Dell Latitude/Inspiron/XPS/Precision batteries

August, October 2006 - Dell has identified a potential issue associated with certain batteries sold with Dell Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Dell Precision Mobile Workstation laptop/notebook computers.

 Dell is voluntarily recalling certain Dell-branded batteries with cells manufactured by Sony and offering free replacements for these batteries.  Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire.

Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers or separately as secondary batteries:

  • Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
  • Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705
  • Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90
  • XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710

In addition, these batteries may have also been provided in response to service calls. The batteries were shipped to customers between 1 April 2004 and 18 July 2006.

Not all of these Dell models used the recalled batteries.  To check if your particular model of battery is affected, and to find details about requesting a replacement if needed, visit the Dell Web site.

Apple iBook/PowerBook batteries

August 2006 - Apple has announced the recall of certain lithium-ion batteries used in iBooks and Powerbooks, that may pose a safety risk that may result in overheating under rare circumstances.

The affected batteries were sold worldwide from October 2003 through August 2006 for use with the following notebook computers:

  • 12-inch iBook G4
  • 12-inch PowerBook G4
  • 15-inch PowerBook G4

Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has initiated a worldwide exchange program to provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge.

Not all of these Apple models used the recalled batteries.  To check if your particular model of battery is affected, and to find details about requesting a replacement if needed, visit the Apple Web site.

Dell Latitude/Inspiron/Precision batteries

January 2006 - Dell is voluntarily recalling and offering free replacements for certain batteries that were sold for use with some models of Dell Latitude, Precision and Inspiron laptop/notebook computers. It is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire.

Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models or separately as secondary batteries:

  • Latitude D410, D505, D510, D600, D610, D800, D810
  • Inspiron 510M, 600M, 6000, 8600, 9200, 9300, XPS Gen 2
  • Precision M20, M70

In addition, these batteries may have also been provided in response to service calls.  The batteries were shipped to customers between 5 October 2004 and 13 October 2005.

Not all of these Dell models used the recalled batteries.  To check if your particular model of battery is affected, and to find details about requesting a replacement if needed, visit the Dell Web site.

Dell 1700/1700n laser printers

September 2005 - During extended reliability testing of the Dell 1700/1700n laser printer, a potential product safety issue was discovered.  Based on this finding and in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Dell is voluntarily recalling and providing free replacements of the Dell 1700 / 1700n printers that were shipped between 8 June and 18 August 2004.  It is possible in limited circumstances, if the printer is not properly grounded, that the 1700/1700n could pose a shock hazard.

Dell has received no customer indication of this problem or reports of injuries.  This action is being conducted in order to prevent any such incident.   This affects only 1700/1700n series printers shipped from 8 June  to 18 August 2004,   Part numbers affected, by geography:

Americas -- J5173, F5939, N4379, N4380, P4731, H4758, K4353

Dell is voluntarily providing a free expedited exchange program to all affected customers.  You should immediately unplug the unit and discontinue use until your replacement printer has arrived.

You must have your service tag available to initiate this exchange.  The service tag is located behind the front access door, under the toner cartridge unit. 

To order a replacement printer please call Dell Technical Support (800-822-8965).

In addition to providing you with a replacement printer, we will include pre-paid shipping materials for returning your original product.  Save the toner cartridge and drum currently installed on your printer, as you’ll be able to use it in your replacement printer. Also keep all cords and any media you may have received with your printer. If you purchased additional paper trays or printer memory, please keep these for use with your replacement printer, too. 

Please note that only the 1700/1700n printers are part of this exchange program.

Apple iBook/PowerBook batteries

May 2005 - About 128,000 rechargeable batteries (in the United States) for iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 computers are subject to a voluntary recall by Apple Computer, Inc.  An internal short can cause the battery cells to overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.  Apple has received six reports worldwide of batteries overheating, including two reports in the United States.

The recalled lithium ion batteries are used with the following computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. The recalled batteries include those with model numbers A1061, A1078 and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 or 3X446 through 3X510.

Consumers should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the unit. No other PowerBook or iBook batteries are involved in this recall.

Computer model name, battery model number, and battery serial number range:

  • 12-inch iBook G4,  A1061, HQ441 - HQ507
  • 12-inch PowerBook G4, A1079, 3X446 - 3X510
  • 15-inch PowerBook G4,  A1078,  3X446 - 3X509

Units were sold at national and regional resellers, catalogers, and Apple’s online and retail stores between October 2004 through May 2005.  The batteries also were also sold separately. 

Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Apple to arrange for a replacement battery, free of charge.  After removing the recalled battery from their iBook or PowerBook, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.

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 at www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange to check your battery’s serial number and apply for a replacement battery.

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For more information about recalls or safety notices, you can contact Medical Information Technology's Help Desk or the Procurement group at 305-243-5999 (option 4) or e-mail us at computerstore@med.miami.edu.