Beyond Nokia Chargers: a Brief History of Recent Technology Recalls

Network World — While there are plenty of products customers probably wish had been recalled (OK, it's time to stop piling on Windows Vista), Nokia's recall Monday of millions of faulty cell phone chargers got us thinking about other recent technology recalls. A sampling:

Technology Fails: 8 Extreme Electronic Disasters
The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years

* HP recalls 70,000 laptop batteries: HP recalled Lithium-Ion batteries used in some of its laptops, as they pose a fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in May. The recall covers about 70,000 batteries used in the company's HP and Compaq-branded laptops, the CPSC said.

* Sony recalls for AC adapters for some Vaio PCs: Sony issued a recall in late October for some AC adapters used with all-in-one Vaio PCs and docking stations as they pose the risk of causing electric shock. Sony issued the voluntary recall working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which said insulation inside the products could fail over time, causing the electric shock risk. Sony had received some reports of the adapters short circuiting, though no injuries have been reported, CPSC said.

* Acer recalls Aspire laptops that could overheat: Acer in October issued a voluntary recall of some of its Acer Aspire laptops that may overheat due to a faulty microphone cable. Laptops eligible for the recall include Acer Aspire models AS3410, AS3810T, AS3810TG, AS3810TZ and AS3810TZG made before Sept. 15, 2009.

* Apple recalls fault first-generation iPod nano in Korea: Apple in July recalled a batch of first-generation iPod nanos in Korea over concerns they might potentially overheat, swell and set fire. The Korea Herald first reported in June that the government had asked Apple to recall its first-generation iPod Nano models, with four cases of batteries overheating or exploding having been reported since December in Korea. (As reported by Macworld UK) Some have speculated whether an iPhone recall might even be in order given the way some of those smartphones can heat up.

* HP, Dell, Toshiba recall Sony laptop batteries: Three of the biggest laptop computer makers in September recalled certain batteries because of a risk they may overheat and catch fire. Sony made the batteries, and the recall mirrored -- yet appeared a lot smaller than -- a similar one that occurred two years ago. This time, around 100,000 batteries were affected, a fraction of the 9.6 million recalled in 2006.

* Sony recalls Vaio laptops: Sony in September 2008 said it was recalling 73,000 Vaio TZ laptops because of a possible manufacturing defect that may cause them to overheat. The recall relates to a problem with wiring near the computer's hinge, which could short-circuit and overheat in certain circumstances, perhaps burning the user.