Gateway Lithium Ion Battery Packs
CPSC Recall #07-219 — June 18, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-219 |
| Recall Date | June 18, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 14,000 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Gateway's professional and direct distributors and Gateway Country stores nationwide from May 2003 through August 2003. The computers with these batteries sold for between $1 |
| 200 and $2 |
| 400 and individual batteries sold for between $60 and $90. |
Product
Gateway Lithium Ion Battery Packs
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gateway Inc., of Irvine, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 Gateway Lithium Ion Battery Packs. These lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. This is not an internal battery cell defect.Name of Product: Gateway Lithium Ion Battery PacksUnits: About 14,000Battery Distributor: Gateway Inc., of Irvine, Calif.Hazard: These lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. This is not an internal battery cell defect.Incidents/Injuries: Gateway has received four reports of battery packs overheating, including minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.Description: The recalled battery packs were shipped as the primary or spare battery pack for some Gateway 400VTX and 450ROG series notebooks, and are identified by part numbers: 6500760 or 6500761. The part number and "made by SMP" are printed on a label on the underside of the battery pack.Sold through: Gateway's professional and direct distributors and Gateway Country stores nationwide from May 2003 through August 2003. The computers with these batteries sold for between $1,200 and $2,400 and individual batteries sold for between $60 and $90.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should stop using these recalled batteries immediately and contact Gateway to receive a replacement battery. Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely by turning the system off, removing the battery pack, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Gateway at (800) 292-6813 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT seven days a week or visit the company's website at www.gateway.com/battery.
Hazard
These lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. This is not an internal battery cell defect.
Incidents & Injuries
Gateway has received four reports of battery packs overheating, including minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these recalled batteries immediately and contact Gateway to receive a replacement battery. Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely by turning the system off, removing the battery pack, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.
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.