Samsung Recalls to Upgrade Certain Cell Phones

Samsung Recalls to Upgrade Certain Cell Phones; Could Fail to Reach Emergency 911 in a No-Service Area

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC.

Name of Product: Samsung “Jitterbug” Cell Phones

Units: About 160,000

Manufacturer: Samsung Telecommunications America, of Richardson, Texas

Distributor: GreatCall d/b/a Jitterbug, of San Diego, Calif.

Hazard: The recalled cell phones that are in a no-service area and display an “out of range, try again later” message could fail to connect to emergency 911.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves “Jitterbug” cell phones model numbers SPH-a110 and SPH-a120 with standard key pads and version BB14 software. No other Samsung wireless phones or software versions are included in this recall.

Sold through: Directly to consumers through targeted national advertisements and publications, electronics and drug stores nationwide, and on the Web at www.jitterbug.com from March 2008 through May 2009 for about $150.

Manufactured in: Korea

Remedy: Samsung and Jitterbug are directly contacting consumers to schedule a free software upgrade. Consumers should call Samsung if they have not already been contacted.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Samsung toll-free at (866) 304-4980 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.samsung.com

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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Tags: Cell Phones

PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recall

PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Lithium-Ion Batteries used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell Notebook Computers

Units: About 35,000 batteries (an additional 65,000 batteries were sold worldwide)

Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corporation, of Japan

Hazard: These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been 19 reports of the batteries overheating, including 17 reports of flames/fire (10 resulting in minor property damage). Two consumers experienced minor burns.

Description: The recalled batteries were included with, and sold separately for use in, the following notebook computer models:

The battery model is located on the battery’s label.

Sold by: Computers with the recalled batteries were sold directly by Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell, through computer and electronics stores nationwide, and through various Web retailers for between $700 and $3000. The batteries were also sold separately for between $100 and $160.

• Hewlett-Packard – sold from December 2004 through June 2006
• Toshiba – sold from April 2005 to October 2005
• Dell – shipped between November 2004 and November 2005

Battery Cells Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the recalled battery from their notebook computer, and contact their computer manufacturer to determine if their battery is included in the recall and to request a free replacement battery. After removing the recalled battery from their notebook computer, consumers may use the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives. Consumers should only use batteries obtained from their computer manufacturer or an authorized reseller.

Consumer Contacts: For additional information, consumers should contact the manufacturer of their notebook computer:

• Hewlett-Packard Co. – http://www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement or call (800) 889-2031 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
• Toshiba – http://www.bxinfo.toshiba.com or call (800) 457-7777 anytime.
• Dell – http://www.dellbatteryprogram.com or call toll-free (866) 342-0011 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Media Contacts:

• Hewlett-Packard Co. – Mike Hockey at (281) 927-9379 or mike.hockey@hp.com
• Toshiba – Eric Paulsen at (949) 275-7957
• Dell – Jeremy Bolen at (512) 728-8329 or Jeremy_Bolen@dell.com
• Sony – Elizabeth Boukis at (408) 352-4593 or Elizabeth.boukis@am.sony.com

Photos (Hewlett-Packard)

Photos (Toshiba)

Photos (Dell)

Printer Power Adapters Recall

DYMO Recalls Power Adapters Sold with DYMO® Printers Due to Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.

Name of Product: DYMO® LabelWriter® Power Adapters used with printers

Units: About 17,000

Manufacturer: DYMO, of Stamford, Conn.

Hazard: The power adapters can fail, causing the printer to overheat. This can pose a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: DYMO has received 11 reports of printers overheating and emitting smoke and/or a burnt smell. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the external power adapters sold with the following DYMO LabelWriter® 400 series printers: DYMO LabelWriter 400, DYMO LabelWriter 400 Turbo, DYMO LabelWriter Twin Turbo, DYMO LabelWriter Duo and DYMO Desktop Mailing Solution with housing date codes 2407, 2507, 2607 or 2707. The date code is printed on the plastic housing of the adapter. Power adapters with “RoHS” printed on the top right of the product label are not included in this recall.

Sold by: Office supply stores, discount retailers, and various specialty retailers nationwide from September 2007 through October 2008 for between $100 and $250.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately unplug the recalled power adapter from the wall socket and from their printer and contact the firm to receive a free replacement external power adapter kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact DYMO toll-free at (888) 658-3904 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dymo.com or http://global.dymo.com/poweradapter

Power adapter included in this recall:

Power adapter with “RoHS” symbol not included in this recall:

Notebook Computer Adapters Recalled

Power Adapters Used with Notebook Computers Recalled by Battery-Biz Due To Burn Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Duracell 130W Combo Power Adapters used with notebook computers

Units: About 1,300

Manufacturer: Battery-Biz Inc., of Camarillo, Calif.

Hazard: The adapters can fail and overheat. This can pose a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Battery-Biz has received five reports of power adapters overheating. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Duracell 130W Combo AC/DC adapters with model numbers EA10900, AC-6501, and DRUM130 and date codes 0804 and 0805. The black power adapter is used with notebook computers. “DURACELL UNIVERSAL POWER ADAPTER” is printed on the front of the power adapter. The model and date codes can be found on the rating label on the back of the power adapter.

Sold at: www.dell.com and www.duracelldirect.com from February 2008 through March 2008 for between $80 and $120.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the power adapter and contact Battery-Biz to return it and obtain a free replacement. Battery-Biz has sent a direct notice to consumers with recalled power adapters.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Battery-Biz at (800) 780-6552 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.battery-biz.com

Necklaces, CD & MP3 Recall Due to Lead Paint Standard

Children’s Necklaces, CD and MP3 Players Sold at Limited Too and Justice Stores Recalled by Tween Brands Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Products: Children’s Ball and Heart Necklaces, Portable CD and MP3 Players

Units: About 12,000

Importer: Tween Brands Inc., of New Albany, Ohio

Hazard: Surface coatings on these products could contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves a Ball and Heart Necklace with pink beads of varying sizes and a pink heart located in the center; a Portable CD Player with flowers and dots available in blue and pink; a pink MP3 Player with purple, green, blue, yellow, and red hearts; and a light blue MP3 Player with a picture of a monkey’s face on the front.

Sold at: Limited Too and Justice retail stores nationwide, the Limited Too catazine (catalog), and on www.limitedtoo.com from May 2007 through August 2008. The Ball and Heart Necklace sold for about $8, the Portable CD Players sold for about $25, and the MP3 Players sold for about $55.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these recalled products away from children and return them to any Limited Too or Justice store for a full refund and a coupon for a 15% discount off a future purchase.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Tween Brands at (800) 934-4497 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web sites at www.limitedtoo.com and www.shopjustice.com

The Ball and Heart Necklace was sold at Limited Too retail stores:

The CD Players were sold through the Limited Too website and catazine (catalog):

The MP3 Players were sold at Justice retail stores:

Notebook Computer Recall

Sony Recalls Notebook Computers Due to Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Certain VAIO TZ-series Notebook Computers

Units: About 73,000

Manufacturer: Sony Electronics Inc., of San Diego, Calif.

Hazard: Irregularly positioned wires near the computer’s hinge and/or a dislodged screw inside the hinge can cause a short circuit and overheating. This poses a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Sony has received 15 reports of overheating, including one consumer who suffered a minor burn.

Description: The recalled notebook computer models are the VAIO VGN-TZ100 series, VGN-TZ200 series, VGN-TZ300 series and VGN-TZ2000 series. The computers’ screen size is about 11.1” measured diagonally. Not all units are affected; consumers should contact Sony to determine if their unit is included in the recall.

Sold by: The SonyStyle stores and Web site, authorized electronics retailers, and authorized business-to-business dealers nationwide from July 2007 through August 2008 for between $1,700 and $4,000.

Manufactured in: Japan and United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled notebook computers immediately and contact Sony to determine if their notebook is affected. The firm will arrange for an inspection and repair, if needed.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Sony toll-free at (888) 526-6219 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.sony.com/support

Tags: Computers