Ram & Reason: Recent Product Recalls
by Rob Rice October 2004
Computer Product Recalls, January-August, 2004.
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The following are excerpts from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, Website and have been edited for publication.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. has experienced a 30-percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. The CPSC, which has significantly contributed to this decline, is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products. Consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. For further details please see the Consumer Product Safety Commission Website and the relevant manufacturer. The CPSC Website can be found at, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html . |
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September 15, 2004 |
Firm’s Hotline: (800) 279-0203
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CPSC, NCR Corp. Announce Recall of NCR Universal Inkjet Refill Kits
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in
voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled
products immediately unless otherwise instructed. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Lexmark’s Hotline: (877) 877-6218
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CPSC, Lexmark International Inc. Announce Recall of Laser Printers
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in
voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled
products immediately unless otherwise instructed. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Apple Recall Hotline: (800) 275-2273
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CPSC, Apple Announce Recall of PowerBook Computer Batteries
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with
the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless
otherwise instructed. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Firm’s Hotline: (800) 303-5507
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CPSC, NETGEAR Inc. Announce Recall of Wall Plug Ethernet Bridges
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with
the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless
otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Wall Plug Ethernet Bridge
Units: About 53,500 units
Manufacturer: NETGEAR Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif.
Hazard: The plastic housing on these units can detach, posing a shock hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: NETGEAR has received one report from a consumer of a
detached casing. No injuries were reported.
Description: The Wall Plug Ethernet Bridge is used to extend internet
availability throughout a home or business. It is 2.75 inches high, 3.5 inches
wide, and 2 inches thick, with a grayish silver plastic housing. “NETGEAR” is
written on the top of the housing. The plastic housing contains a label with the
model number and the serial number on it. The model number is XE102 and the
serial numbers are XE12A32LB000001 through XE12A32LB005000 and XE12134LB005021
through XE12143LB053586.
Sold at: Various electronics stores, Web sites, and through the NETGEAR Web site
from February 2003 through May 2004 for between $50 and $80.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately. Remove electrical
power source to the receptacle and unplug the unit. Contact the company for a
free repair kit. The free repair kit when affixed will ensure that the plastic
housing will not become loose or separated.
Consumer Contact: Call NETGEAR Inc., toll-free at (800) 303-5507 anytime for a
free repair kit. Consumers also can register at the company’s Web site
www.netgear.com
to order a free repair kit.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Company Phone Number: (800) 880-9743
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CPSC, Sony Electronics Inc. Announce Recall of Certain VAIO Notebook Computers
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in
voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled
products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Sony VAIO notebook computers
Units: About 5,600
Manufacturer: Sony Corp., of Tokyo, Japan
Hazard: Users could receive a mild electric shock when the recalled computers
are connected to a phone line and the phone rings.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: Only Sony VAIO notebook computers with model numbers PCG-FRV25 or
PCG-FRV27 sold from June through July 2003 are part of the recall. These
computers will have slow modem speeds, generally below 24K while using the
notebook's AC adapter. Consumers unsure of their modem speed can check it at the
Sony PC support Web site:
www.sony.com/pcsupport.
Sony previously announced this recall on July 10, 2003.
Sold at: Electronic and computer stores nationwide from June 2003 through July
2003 for about $1,500.
Manufactured in: China.
Remedy: Consumers with VAIO notebooks included in the recall should disconnect
their modem from the
phone line immediately, and contact Sony to arrange for a free repair. Sony also
will extend the current limited warranty for repaired products to 2 years from
date of original purchase.
Consumer Contact: Call Sony at (800) 880-9743 anytime or visit their Web site at
www.sony.com/pcsupport.
Media Contact: Valerie Motis at (858) 942-8016 or at
valerie.motis@am.sony.com.
CPSC, IBM and LiteOn Technology Announce Expansion of Previously Announced Recall of Computer Monitors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., and LiteOn Technology, of Taipei,
Taiwan, are voluntarily expanding their recall to repair program for G51 and
G51t computer monitors manufactured by LiteOn and sold by IBM. The
original recall,
which was announced on March 4, 2003, involved 56,000 computer monitors. The
expansion includes 63,000 additional G51 and G51t monitors that were
manufactured through September 1998. The monitor's circuit board can overheat
and smoke, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
IBM and LiteOn have received seven reports of monitors overheating and smoking,
including one report of minor property damage and one report of minor smoke
inhalation.
The recalled IBM monitors include the G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch
Screen CRT models. The G51 and G51t monitors have the following model numbers on
a label on the back of
the unit:
6541-02N, 6541-02E, 6541-02S, 6541-Q0N, 6541-Q0E, and 6541-Q0S. The label on the
back of the recalled G51 models also has a date of manufacture between June 1997
and September 1998. The "IBM" logo can be found on the front of the units, which
were manufactured in China, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom.
IBM, MicroTouch Systems, and major retail stores nationwide, including Best Buy,
CompUSA, Office Max, and Radio Shack, sold the monitors from June 1997 through
December 1998 for about $370.
Consumers should stop using these monitors immediately and contact the IBM
Repair Center toll-free at (866) 644-3155 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday
through Friday to confirm whether their monitor is covered by the recall.
Consumers with a recalled unit will receive a free inspection and repair or a
replacement unit. For more information, consumers can log on the company's
Website at
www.ibm.com/pc/g51recall.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
IBM Recall Hotline: (866) 644-3155 |
CPSC, IBM Announce Recall to Repair Computer Monitors
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), IBM, of
Armonk, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling to repair 56,000 computer monitors. The
monitor's circuit board can overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard to
consumers.
IBM has received five reports of monitors overheating and smoking, including one
report of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
The recalled IBM monitors include the G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch
Screen CRT models. The G51 and G51t monitors have the following model numbers on
a label on the back of the unit: 6541-02N, 6541-02E, 6541-02S, 6541-Q0N,
6541-Q0E, and 6541-Q0S. The label on the back of the recalled G51 models also
has a date of manufacture between June 1997 and September 1997. The "IBM" logo
can be found on the front of the units, which were manufactured in China and
Malaysia.
IBM, MicroTouch Systems, and major retail stores nationwide, including Best Buy,
CompUSA, Office Max, and Radio Shack, sold the monitors from June 1997 through
December 1998 for about $370.
Consumers should stop using these monitors immediately and contact the IBM
Repair Center at (866) 644-3155 betw
een
9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for a free inspection and repair or
replacement. For more information, consumer can log on the company's Website at
www.ibm.com/pc/g51recall
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
Rob Rice is a member of the Computer Club of Oklahoma City and a computer specialist working in Anchorage Alaska. You can email Rob at, articles@isp.com