Lenovo Recalls 500,000 Sony Made Batteries for ThinkPad Notebooks

The PR nightmare continues for Sony, this time Lenovo is recalling 500,000 Sony made lithium ion batteries sold with recent ThinkPad notebooks. In an event last month a man's ThinkPad T43 laptop went up in flames at Los Angeles airport which lead to the investigation that has resulted in this recall.

The recall is occurring because these batteries can overheat and pose potential fire hazard as witnessed at LAX airport. 168,500 of the recalled battery packs were sold in the U.S. while 357,500 were sold elsewhere in the world. If you have a ThinkPadT series (T43, T43p, T60); R Series (R51e, R52, R60, R60e);or X Series (X60, X60s) purchased between February 2005 and September 2006 you should check for the following part numbers on your battery:

Affected Part/model numbers:

ASM P/N FRU P/N
92P1072 92P1073
92P1088 92P1089
92P1142 92P1141
92P1170 92P1169 or 93P5028
92P1174 92P1173 or 93P5030

I myself have a ThinkPad T43 notebook and upon checking it looks like my battery is in the clear:

ThinkPad T43 battery that is thankfully unaffected by the recall (view large image)

ThinkPad T43 next to lithium ion battery that is apparently safe from catching fire (view large image)

The ASM P/N number on my battery is 92P1086 and the FRU P/N is 92P1087 and so falls just outside of the affected numbers. At least, I hope they're right about my battery being okay...

If your notebook battery does fall under these recallpart numbersthen you can contact Lenovo at 1-800-426-7378 or visit their website at http://www.lenovo.com/batteryprogram to get further information and determine if the battery definitely is one that needs to be replaced by Lenovo. The Consumer Protection Agency is recommending that those with affected batteries do not use these batteries as a measure of safety.

 

There has been like what less than 10 laptop fires out of how many millions of laptop batteries sold. Seems like overkill to me.

 

True, but if they are not recall, TSA will probably consider it a hazard and ban all laptops from airplane.

Not to mention that anything that causes fire may result in a lawsuit of some form.

Paul

 

True, there's a better chance of you getting in a car accident today than your laptop battery exploding, but it is what they're saying as the remedy and here's the link to the release to back up my words: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-28-2006/0004441831&EDATE=

 

By all means keep an eye on, but don't use your laptop because there is a .001% chance it may start on fire.

 

continue with that mentality towards cars with exploding fuel tanks, exploding tires or cars splitting in half upon collision...wont be so passive about wanting a recall in that case would you? Any hazard such as an exploding battery, should be recalled.

 

A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

-T. Durden

 

Thanks for the info, abaxter. Good to know I'm safe from groin burns.

Chris

 

Good to get the word out there. Anyone with a 17097HU, such as mine, and has an 8 cell battery, is NOT affected by the recall. I just checked, but it is good for you to check just in case.

 

Even though 0.001% of the laptop will catch on fire, the manufacturer is not going to take any chances of defending a class-action lawsuit, which could hurt their reputation, especially when someone's house burnt down and a family member is killed -- all caused by a faulty laptop battery.

Lenovo acknowledged the life-threatening problem and did something about it. It is a sign that they are a company that stands behind the products they sell.

 

Andrew you should want your battery to be recalled. Then you get a new one without any wear.
Tim

 

I'm too lazy to have to fill out a shipping label to send it in and too impatient to have to wait for another battery to arrive though

 

the only thing that needs to be factored in now is the consumer. they might not go with a company that isn't going to issue a recall because they think it is more expensive than a few lawsuits.

i wouldn't...

loosing consumers can be more costly in the long run!

 

With ya there, my laptop has more a reputation for exploding batteries be it that it is a Dell. My 9cell battery is thankfully clear, but I'm to lazy to get my original 6cell battery out of storage and check it. Even if I would still be able to use my machine. It's to much of a hassel to wait to send it in and wait for a replacement. My attention span doesn't last long enough.

 

There has to be a recall (which there is), for the sake of setting an example for the industry - and salvaging what little consumer trust remains in Sony batteries, after this.

If I were Dell, IBM - Lenovo (the two biggest notebook manufacturers), I would dump Sony as my battery supplier (may very well happen after this). Yes it is difficult to build a corporate relationship with supplier and buyer, as has been created between Sony and many other companies, but it's a risk not worth taking, not when bodily harm is a chance.

 

If there is a .001% chance, I'm still using it as the benefit of using it greatly outwieghs the risk that I will get burned. Will keep my eye on it though.

 

Thanks for that abaxter, Ill check the IBM I have lying around and my sister's IBM just to be sure.

As always rather safe then sorry.

 

Where did you get "life-threatening problem" from? Sure there's a public safety risk, but life-threatening...com'on

 

if the percentage of failure was indeed .00000001% then there is no way a recall would be initiated...at least not from the manufacture themselves. The cost to recall the proudct vs. the potential $ loss is the key here, notice I didnt mention human LIFE being the main concern, its always the $...as Tyler D mentioned

 

If you have been reading my post carefully, you acknowledged that the battery can cause a fire hazard which is life-threatening.

It can not only cause injuries, but death as well.

 

my T43 has the same battery as abaxter's. the battery monitor program says it's a Sanyo battery. Hopefully they didn't just screw up the spelling.

 

Does anyone have a T42 battery that is manufactured by Sony but is not recalled by Lenovo? I bought mine in April of 2005, yet I wonder why my battery is not being recalled