Batteries in Kyocera Slider, K400, and 3200 Series cell phones
CPSC Recall #05-505 — October 27, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-505 |
| Recall Date | October 27, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 1 million |
| Manufacturer | Hecmma Group, of El Paso, Texas |
| Manufactured In | Made in China, assembled in Mexico |
Where It Was Sold
| ALLTEL |
| Virgin Mobile |
| Cricket Communications |
| MetroPCS |
| US Cellular |
| and Verizon Wireless stores nationwide; telemarketing retailers; various websites; and regional phone carriers sold the cell phones with the recalled batteries. The 3200 Series and K400 Series phones were sold from December 2003 to September 2004 for between $30 and $100. Slider Series phones were sold from May 2004 to September 2004 for between $30 and $170. The recalled batteries were also sold separately during the same periods for between $30 and $60. |
Product
Batteries in Kyocera Slider, K400, and 3200 Series cell phones
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hecmma Group, of El Paso, Texas. is voluntarily recalling about 1 million batteries in Kyocera Wireless Cell Phones. Some of the cell phone batteries supplied by the battery manufacturer may be counterfeit. This can cause the batteries to short-circuit, overheat and pose burn hazard to consumers.Name of Product: Batteries in Kyocera Wireless Corp. Cell PhonesUnits: About 1 millionManufacturer: Hecmma Group, of El Paso, TexasDistributor: Kyocera Wireless Corp., of San Diego, Calif.Hazard: Some of the cell phone batteries supplied by the battery manufacturer may be counterfeit. This can cause the batteries to short-circuit, overheat and pose burn hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Kyocera has received 14 reports of battery failures, resulting in smoke and minor property damage. Two minor burn injuries have been reported.Description: The recalled batteries are included in Kyocera Slider, K400, and 3200 Series cell phones. Below is additional information about the cell phones and recalled batteries:Cell PhoneModel NameCell Phone Model NumberBattery Model Numbers Battery Description Slider SeriesSE44/SE47CV90-L305N-01CV90-L305P-01CV90-L305T-01CV90-L349T-01 Battery has the Kyocera name printed in red and black along with the model number K400 Series"Phantom""Blade""Rave" KE413KE433KE/KX414KE/KX424KE/KX434 CV90-K3040-03CV90-K3040-09CV90-K3040-10CV90-K3040-11 Battery has the Kyocera name printed in red and white along with the model number 3200 Series 32253250(Appears above orbelow phone display) CV90-K3040-03CV90-K3040-09CV90-K3040-10CV90-K3040-11 Battery has the Kyocera name printed in red and white along with the model number Sold at: ALLTEL, Virgin Mobile, Cricket Communications, MetroPCS, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless stores nationwide; telemarketing retailers; various websites; and regional phone carriers sold the cell phones with the recalled batteries. The 3200 Series and K400 Series phones were sold from December 2003 to September 2004 for between $30 and $100. Slider Series phones were sold from May 2004 to September 2004 for between $30 and $170. The recalled batteries were also sold separately during the same periods for between $30 and $60.Manufactured In: Made in China, assembled in MexicoRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled batteries in their cell phones. Kyocera will contact consumers directly to arrange for delivery of a free replacement battery. If consumers with recalled batteries are not contacted by Kyocera, they should call the company to receive a free replacement battery. The batteries should be stored in an environment with non-flammable materials.Consumer Contact: Call Kyocera Wireless Corp. toll-free at (866) 559-3882 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or request a replacement battery online at www.kyocera-wireless.com.Media Contact: John Chier at (858) 882-3543.
Hazard
Some of the cell phone batteries supplied by the battery manufacturer may be counterfeit. This can cause the batteries to short-circuit, overheat and pose burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Kyocera has received 14 reports of battery failures, resulting in smoke and minor property damage. Two minor burn injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled batteries in their cell phones. Kyocera will contact consumers directly to arrange for delivery of a free replacement battery. If consumers with recalled batteries are not contacted by Kyocera, they should call the company to receive a free replacement battery. The batteries should be stored in an environment with non-flammable materials.
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.