Fujitsu-Siemens Recalls Faulty Laptop Batteries

Units may overheat and pose a fire risk, company says.

Peter Sayer, IDG News Service

Batteries in some notebook computers from Fujitsu Siemens Computers can overheat, with a risk of fire. The company has recalled the batteries in some of its Amilo notebook computers, and will replace affected batteries free of charge, it said this week.

Customers with batteries affected by the recall should stop using them immediately.

The company recommends removing the battery from the computer, which can still be operated on main electrical power.

Model Numbers

The rechargeable lithium ion batteries involved in the recall have model numbers ending in G1L1, and were supplied with the following Amilo notebooks: A7640, A1640, M1405, M1424, M1425, M7405, M7424, M7425, and Pro V2020.

The model numbers can be found in the middle of a label on the underside of the computer, the company says.

The batteries went on sale in October 2004, and may also have been sold separately as spares, the company says.

More information about to obtain a replacement battery can be found online.

The company has received four reports of batteries overheating, out of a possible 250,000 units, it says. No injuries have been reported, it says.

In May, Apple Computer recalled 128,000 notebook computer batteries after receiving six reports of them overheating.