Toshiba Australia moves to quell global battery recall alarm

By Stan Beer
Tuesday, 19 September 2006 17:04

Home IT

Toshiba Australia has issued a statement aimed at dissipating public fears over reports of a recall of 340,000 notebook batteries by the laptop computer manufacturer worldwide, saying the recall had nothing to do with safety issues.

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According to Toshiba Australia:

­        Toshiba Australia confirms this is not a battery recall.

­        Toshiba has identified a potential batch related issue with certain Toshiba battery packs supplied by a third party vendor.  Subject battery packs may not properly charge or discharge, on occasion.  These affected battery packs were sold separately as accessories (optional battery packs) as well as part of certain notebook PCs manufactured between March and May 2006.

­        There no safety risk associated with this issue.  This is an entirely different matter to the overheating / flammability issue being faced by other notebook manufacturers, which has led to a recall of other notebook batteries.

­        Less than 1,000 Toshiba notebooks in Australia and New Zealand are likely to be affected. 

If customers experience any significant battery life issues (i.e.: battery pack stops accepting charge or no longer supplies power to the notebook) they should contact their nearest Toshiba authorised service centre, Toshiba Mobile Care Service Centre (www.isd.toshiba.com.au/support ) or call Toshiba Support Centre on 1800-021-100 (Australia) or 0800-445-439 (New Zealand)