Panasonic battery packs used in Toshiba laptop computers
CPSC Recall #16-131 — March 30, 2016
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 16-131 |
| Recall Date | March 30, 2016 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 91,000 (in addition, 10,000 were sold in Canada) |
| Manufacturer | Panasonic, of Japan |
| Importer | Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., of Irvine, Calif. |
| Manufactured In | China and Japan |
Where It Was Sold
| Office Depot |
| Staples and other electronics stores nationwide |
| and online at Toshibadirect.com and other websites from June 2011 through January 2016 for between $500 and $1 |
| 000 for the laptop and between $70 and $130 for the battery pack. |
Product
Panasonic battery packs used in Toshiba laptop computers
Description
The lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.
Hazard
The lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received four reports of the battery packs overheating and melting. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately go to the firm's website and click on the battery pack utility link in the first shadowed box on the page. Consumers can also perform a manual check using the laptop and battery pack's model, part and serial numbers. If it is part of the recall, consumers should power off the laptop, remove the battery and follow the instructions to obtain a free replacement battery pack. Until a replacement battery pack is received, consumers should use the laptop by plugging into AC power only.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.