Recall of Sony batteries by Dell

Dell has started to recall notebook computers sold with Sony batteries, including its Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Precision Mobile Workstation models.

"In co-operation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulatory agencies, Dell voluntarily recalled certain Dell-branded batteries with cells manufactured by Sony and offered free replacements for these batteries," the company said in a statement released in Malta last week.

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

Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers, or provided or sold separately as secondary batteries:

• Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800 and D810;

• Inspiron: 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 500m, 510m, 600m, 6400, E1505, 700m, 710m, 9400 and E1705;

• Dell Precision Mobile Workstations: M20, M60, M70 and M90; and

• XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, and XPS M1710.

In addition, these batteries may have also been provided in response to service calls. The batteries were shipped to customers between April 1, 2004, and July 18, 2006. The words "Dell" and 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".

Intercomp, local representatives, took steps to notify customers that had procured Dell notebooks locally after Dell started recalling the computers in August. It was made clear that battery packs affected by this recall should not be used.

Notebook computers may continue to be used by safely turning the system off, ejecting the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.

The initial arrangement was for Dell to ship the replacement batteries directly to the customers. However, Sony has since been inundated with a huge backlog of battery deliveries as other notebook manufacturers, including Toshiba, Lenovo, Apple, IBM and Fujitsu Siemens, also issued battery recall programmes.

Subsequently, Dell has modified its strategy and will now ship replacement batteries direct to its authorised distributor Intercomp for onward delivery to the customers.

A spokesman for Intercomp said: "We have received the first batch of batteries with instructions from Dell to whom to distribute and these have in effect been delivered. The process also includes the retrieval and dispatch of the faulty batteries to Dell.

"We are now awaiting the next batch of batteries. We apologise to our customers for this inconvenience and we assure them that Dell is doing its utmost to hasten the replacement process in conjunction with Sony."

Customers who may have any further questions can contact Intercomp's technical department on technical@intercomp.com.mt or 2291-6150/160.