IBM monitors: G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch Screen CRT models

CPSC Recall #03-176 — August 28, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-176
Recall DateAugust 28, 2003
Remedy TypeInspect, Repair
Units Affected63,000 (in addition, 56,000 monitors were recalled in 2003)
ManufacturerLiteOn Technology, of Taipei, Taiwan
Manufactured InChina, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom

Where It Was Sold

IBM
MicroTouch Systems
and major retail stores nationwide
including Best Buy
CompUSA
Office Max
and Radio Shack
sold the monitors from June 1997 through December 1998 for about $370.

Product

IBM monitors: G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch Screen CRT models

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., and LiteOn Technology, of Taipei, Taiwan, are voluntarily expanding their recall to repair program for G51 and G51t computer monitors manufactured by LiteOn and sold by IBM. The original recall, which was announced on March 4, 2003, involved 56,000 computer monitors. The expansion includes 63,000 additional G51 and G51t monitors that were manufactured through September 1998. The monitor's circuit board can overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard to consumers.IBM and LiteOn have received seven reports of monitors overheating and smoking, including one report of minor property damage and one report of minor smoke inhalation.The recalled IBM monitors include the G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch Screen CRT models. The G51 and G51t monitors have the following model numbers on a label on the back of the unit: 6541-02N, 6541-02E, 6541-02S, 6541-Q0N, 6541-Q0E, and 6541-Q0S. The label on the back of the recalled G51 models also has a date of manufacture between June 1997 and September 1998. The "IBM" logo can be found on the front of the units, which were manufactured in China, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom.IBM, MicroTouch Systems, and major retail stores nationwide, including Best Buy, CompUSA, Office Max, and Radio Shack, sold the monitors from June 1997 through December 1998 for about $370.Consumers should stop using these monitors immediately and contact the IBM Repair Center toll-free at (800) 426-7378 anytime to confirm whether their monitor is covered by the recall. Consumers with a recalled unit will receive a free inspection and repair or a replacement unit. For more information, consumers can log on the company's website at http://www.ibm.com/.

Hazard

The monitor's circuit board can overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

IBM and LiteOn have received seven reports of monitors overheating and smoking, including one report of minor property damage and one report of minor smoke inhalation.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these monitors immediately and contact the IBM Repair Center toll-free at (800) 426-7378 anytime to confirm whether their monitor is covered by the recall. Consumers with a recalled unit will receive a free inspection and repair or a replacement unit.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Repair 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 (Inspect, Repair) 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.