Dell recalls exploding batteries

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Dell and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued its biggest ever product recall on batteries for its laptops after a series of incidents of batteries overheating or catching fire.

The recall effects a range of models in the Latitude, Inspiron, Precision and XPS series shipped between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006. Batteries shipped as replacements for other models may also be faulty and Dell has set up a web site for users to check if they are in danger.

"Dell is voluntarily recalling certain Dell-branded batteries with cells manufactured by Sony and offering free replacements for these batteries," said the company.

"Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire."

The company warns that one of the following are printed on the batteries: "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" or "Battery Cell Made in Japan Assembled in China." Where fault is suspected the company recommends using the laptops without the batteries on mains power only.

According to the blog of Lionel Menchaca, Dell's digital media manager, about 14 per cent of the batteries shipped during that date are faulty and there have been six instances of batteries overheating or catching fire. Over four million batteries will be recalled.

The batteries themselves were part of a batch made by Sony and that company is helping with the logisitics and costs of the recall, which Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell's mobility product group, is calling one of the biggest in Dell's history. Sony's share price fell by 0.5 per cent on the news of the recall.

This is not the first time Dell has had problems with its batteries. It has issued product recalls for batteries in 2006, 2001 and 2000 but recalls of this size are rare.

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