HP Recalls 15,700 Faulty Notebook Batteries

Hewlett-Packard is recalling 15,700 notebook batteries after reports that they overheated, causing minor property damage and, in one instance, a minor burn injury, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

The batteries were manufactured in China during early January 2005 and have a bar code label that starts with “L3.” The batteries were used with several HP notebook models, including the HP Pavillion, HP Compaq and Compaq Presario product series, the commission said.

“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,” the commission said. Of the 15,700 batteries being recalled by HP, about 4,100 belong to users in the United States.

More information about the battery recall is available on HP’s website.

A statement from the consumer commission is also available online.

-Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service

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