CPSC, Apple Announce Recall of iBook and 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.
Name of Product: Rechargeable batteries for iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 computers.
Units: About 128,000 units (in the United States)
Computer Manufacturer: Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif.
Battery Manufacturer: LG Chem Ltd., of South Korea
Hazard: An internal short can cause the battery cells to overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Apple has received six reports worldwide of batteries overheating, including two reports in the United States.
Description: 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 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
Sold At: National and regional resellers, catalogers, and Apples online and retail stores sold the computers with the batteries from October 2004 through May 2005 for between $900 to $2300. The batteries also were sold separately for about $130.
Assembled in: Taiwan and China
Remedy: 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.
Consumer Contact: Contact Apple at (800) 275-2273 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday through Sunday or log on to Apples web site at www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange to check your batterys serial number and apply for a replacement battery.
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