Vaio laptop recall

Battery fire risk sparks Vaio laptop recall

By SHELDON OSBORNE

If you are reading this article on a Sony Vaio Fit 11A laptop, you should worry, after all, its one thing to have a hot laptop sitting uncomfortably on your lap, but for that laptop to ignite and burn its user is another matter.

Last Friday, Sony urged customers who purchased the new model of its Vaio computers to stop using them as soon as possible over fears they could catch fire while in use.

In the latest product problem for the troubled electronics group, the company is notifying owners of the Vaio Fit 11A, which launched in February, that their computers may have a faulty battery pack that is at risk of overheating and igniting. A formal recall is being implemented.

According to an article published on April 11 in the UK Guardian, the computer manufacturer said it had shipped 25,905 of the Vaio Fit 11A in 52 countries since its launch, including 7,158 in Europe, 2,088 in China, 3,619 in Japan and 497 in the US.

Sony said three PCs had caught on fire around the battery pack, which was manufactured by Panasonic Corp.

The three incidents occurred in Japan, Hong Kong, and in China. All units were immediately pulled from store shelves. The batteries in question were made by Panasonic. A spokesperson from Panasonic told the Wall Street Journal that the company could not provide details about other computer manufacturers that may have received the same Panasonic batteries, but assured the paper that the batteries are customized for the needs of each client.

On its website, Sony issued this Press Release warning customers to immediately stop using the laptops:

“It has come to our attention that some of the internal, non-removable battery packs provided to us by a third party supplier and included in VAIO Fit 11A released in February 2014 have the potential to overheat resulting in partial burns to the housing of the PC. If you have one or more of the VAIO Fit11A/Flip PC model listed below, please immediately discontinue use, shut down and unplug the PC. We are currently identifying affected PCs by serial numbers and developing a program to repair or replace the affected PCs at no charge, or to refund the purchase price for the affected PCs, in accordance with the program. We expect to post a program announcement with details within two weeks. In the meantime, as safety is our primary concern, we ask again that you please refrain from using the below-listed model until you further hear from us in the program announcement. [Target models] VAIO Fit 11A 
Personal Computer”


The only model number listed is “SVF11N13CXS”.

One on-line publication noted that it isn’t the company’s first battery-related recall. In 2006, Sony had to recall battery packs that it had produced for several other PC manufacturers. Then, in 2010 the company was forced to recall nearly 535,000 Vaio laptops when a temperature-control issue caused overheating and structural distortion to the laptop itself.

The company mentioned an impending program announcement for more information about the recall program. If you own a new Vaio laptop, keep an eye on the company’s Support Page for an announcement.