Macintosh PowerBook 45W AC Adapters
CPSC Recall #01-188 — July 5, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-188 |
| Recall Date | July 5, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 570,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Electronic and computer stores worldwide and Apple's website sold these AC adapters with PowerBook G3s from May 1998 through March 2000. They also were sold separately for about $69. |
Product
Macintosh PowerBook 45W AC Adapters
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Apple, of Cupertino, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 570,000 AC adapters worldwide that were sold with prior generation PowerBook G3s. These AC adapters could overheat, posing a fire hazard.Apple received six reports of these adapters overheating. No injuries have been reported.No Titanium PowerBook G4 or iBook power adapters are part of this recall. The recall includes only AC adapters with a two-pin connector that came with Apple Macintosh PowerBooks or that were sold separately. The small rectangular black AC adapter box has a permanently attached cord on one end that connects to the computer and a detachable two-prong cord on the other end to plug into an AC outlet. It is approximately 4.75 inches long by 2 inches wide. The label located on the side of the adapter reads in part, "Macintosh PowerBook 45W AC Adapter" and "Model Number: M4402."Electronic and computer stores worldwide and Apple's website sold these AC adapters with PowerBook G3s from May 1998 through March 2000. They also were sold separately for about $69.Consumers should stop using these AC adapters and contact Apple to receive a free replacement. For more information, contact Apple at (866) 277-2096 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Sunday through Saturday, or go to their website at www.apple.com/adapterexchange/.
Hazard
These AC adapters could overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
Apple received six reports of these adapters overheating. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these AC adapters and contact Apple to receive a free replacement.
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.