Burn Hazards Force Sony to Recall
Notebooks
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Sony
Electronics, announced today (Sept. 4) a voluntary recall of a few
VAIO TZ-series notebook computers, as they can cause burns to consumers.
The total number of faulty computers is nearly 73,000. Manufactured in
Japan and the United States, they were sold by SonyStyle stores and
website, authorized electronics retailers, and authorized
business-to-business dealers in the U.S. from July 2007 through August
2008. Consumers are advised to stop using recalled products immediately.
The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission informs about the hazard saying that
irregularly positioned wires near the computer's hinge and/or a dislodged
screw inside the hinge can cause a short circuit and overheating. This
poses a burn hazard to consumers.
Sony has
already received 15 reports of overheating, including one consumer who
suffered a minor burn.
The
recalled notebook computer models are the VAIO VGN-TZ100 series, VGN-TZ200
series, VGN-TZ300 series, and VGN-TZ2000 series. The computers' screen
size is about 11.1" measured diagonally. Not all units are affected;
consumers should contact Sony to determine if their unit is included in
the recall.
These
systems were sold by SonyStyle stores and the website, authorized
electronics retailers, and authorized business-to-business dealers from
July 2007 through August 2008 for between $1,700 and $4,000.
Consumers
should stop using the recalled notebook computers immediately and contact
Sony to determine if their notebook is affected. The firm will arrange for
an inspection and repair, if needed.
Consumer
Contact: Sony toll-free at (888) 526-6219 anytime, or visit the firm's
website at http://www.sony.com/support.
The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public
from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000
types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
