The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, California, have announced the recall of approximately 16,000 (worldwide) HP and Compaq Notebook Computer Batteries (about 4,100 in U.S.) manufactured in China. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.

An internal failure can cause the battery to overheat and melt or char the plastic case, posing a burn and fire hazard.

HP has received 20 reports of batteries overheating, including two in the United States. One minor burn injury has been reported. Eleven cases of minor property damage were reported, including one in the United States.

The recalled lithium ion rechargeable batteries are used with various HP and Compaq notebook computers. The recalled batteries are a subset of those manufactured in early January 2005, and will have a bar code label starting with L3. HP and Compaq Notebook Model Series that may contain a recalled battery include:

The notebook model is located on the display screen bezel or in the labeling on the bottom of the notebook.

The recalled products were sold at national and regional computer and electronics stores, online stores, and at hp.com and hpshopping.com from January 2005 through December 2005 for between $1,000 and $3,000. The battery packs also were sold separately for between $100 and $130.

Consumers should stop using the “L3” coded batteries immediately and contact HP to determine if the specific battery is one of the ones being recalled, and if it is, receive a free replacement battery.

After removing the recalled battery from their notebook computer, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the notebook until a replacement battery arrives.

For additional information, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web Site at www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement , or contact HP at (888) 202-4320 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 21st, 2006 at 7:23 am and is filed under Defective Products, Product Recalls.