The battery recall bug is back
In 2006 more than 10 million Sony-manufacturered notebook batteries were recalled -- an error that cost Sony more than $444 million dollars to correct. A completely different hazard condition came to light today, this time from Sanyo.
Today Lenovo has issued a recall on 9-cell lithium-ion batteries. Lenovo insiders stress to DailyTech that this recall is not due to the same conditions as the Sony battery recall from 2006; the batteries are of Sanyo manufacture and the hazard occurs when the battery has undergone considerable abuse.
"Lenovo has confirmed that notebook computers containing the recalled
battery packs may overheat, posing a potential safety hazard to users
if the battery pack experiences a strong external impact," the company stated in a press release.
All affected batteries will be replaced free of charge. Lenovo suggests removing the battery from defective units and using the AC adaptor until a replacement has arrived.
The 10.8V, 5.2 Ah batteries, manufactured between November 2005 and February 2007, are found in the following notebook models; which includes replacement batteries and factory-bundled batteries:
- R60 and R60e Series
- T60 and T60p Series
- Z60m, Z61e, Z61m, and Z61p Series
Lenovo also stresses that only the 9-cell batteries with the Sanyo manufacturer part number 92P1131 are affected. Lenovo has created a help page for owners of those notebooks.
Sanyo, the manufacturer of the batteries in this set of recalls, had an excellent track record for 2006, issuing no recalls. Sanyo was actually called upon to fill replacement orders after the Sony battery debacle.
Just last month, Panasonic senior manager Michael Bucker stated to DailyTech “When any supplier has a problem, it creates concern for the
technology itself. The challenge that we must meet is to reassure the public
that Lithium-ion batteries are safe.”
Panasonic has taken steps in the last 18 months, which include new battery designs that incorporate heat resistance layer technologies, to prevent further recalls. However, these extra-durable designs were not part of the ThinkPad build-of-materials.
"It seems as though my state-funded math degree has failed me. Let the lashings commence." -- DailyTech Editor-in-Chief Kristopher Kubicki
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