Dell recalls four million batteries

[Rocol]

Computer maker Dell is recalling more than four million laptop batteries because they pose a fire risk.

It follows reports in the US of around half a dozen machines smoking or bursting into flames.

In rare cases, the Sony-made batteries can short-circuit and overheat, the technology giant said.

More than a million of the batteries are thought to have been sold outside the US, although figures for the number sold in the UK and Ireland were not immediately available.

The Dell-branded batteries were used in laptops supplied between April 1, 2004, and July 18, 2006, the company said.

They were sold either separately or with Dell Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Dell Precision Mobile Workstation laptop computers.

The words Dell and "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" or "Battery cell made in Japan, Assembled in China" are printed on the back of the batteries.

Dell stressed that the short-circuiting problem was rare.

A Sony spokesman said the two companies had studied problems with the battery packs for more than a month, after getting reports of about a half-dozen fires or smoking laptops in the US.

Dell is urging customers to check via its website if their batteries are subject to the recall.
Customers whose battery identification numbers match those being recalled will be automatically connected to a replacement order form.

Affected battery packs should be returned to Dell for disposal. The company will supply free replacement batteries to affected customers.

Affected batteries should not be used by customers waiting for replacement packs. Laptop computers should instead be plugged into the mains, Dell said.

Not good publicity for Dell .. but I wouldn't buy one of their computers anyway, as they don't have a very good track record, on the Hardware or the After Sales Servics

[Setarime]

very crap publicity for Dell. i thought they had quite a good reputation but I dont really know that much about computers apart from the fact that Tiny are crap

[stubacca68]

i agree, crap publicity, i would not know if they are crap computers though! but i cant see it denting the massive turn over that the company has.

oh well its one less crap advert on the tv now!! (probably not though!)

[O.G]

on the Hardware or the After Sales Servics

Agree Rocol,not a good record reguarding Dell.

[Saurgrist]

I have a Dell, and their support is great. My XPS laptop had hardware problems and Dell fully replaced it, giving me another laptop with an extra GB of RAM and another 20 GB hard drive space. They also gave me lots of software for the trouble, which were valued at hundreds of dollars.

I have to check my battery when i get home (in NYC now), but I do not think that mine is a Sony...

[yankeesdood16]

I also have a dell but I just got it last week so I'm not effected.

[TGLucario]

hmmm, i never have & never will get Dell...good ol helwet packard bell 4 me , but bad news 4 Dell tho

[Arwen]

well thankfully i would never buy a brand new pc as i build my own but good grief dell is a well supposed to be a good make mmmmm makes you wonder