Hewlett-Packard is recalling batteries affecting more than 20 of its products sold over a seven-month span starting in August 2007. Around 70,000 batteries now must be recalled by HP, with the first round of recalls already under way, a recent safety report indicates.
The affected batteries include nine HP Pavilion models, nine Compaq Presario models, one HP Compaq notebook, and two HP notebooks -- all units were sold from August 2007 to March 2008. The full list of products can be seen at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC's) web site.
HP is asking owners to manually remove the battery and check its bar code before trying to send the battery in.
At least two people have come forward with cases of HP notebook batteries becoming fire hazards after the batteries "overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor properly damage," though there were no physical injuries in either incident.
The batteries were made in China, but HP and the CPSC haven't publicly reported who made the batteries.
Anyone who thinks they may have an affected battery should immediately unplug it and then contact HP. The company is sending out replacement batteries to everyone who needs a new battery free of charge.
Manufacturers have had a difficult time with fire hazards related to notebooks, as Apple and Sony also have had to issue notebook battery recalls. There has been immediate concern over foreign-made batteries, especially units made in China, as the country's manufacturing laws aren't as strict as many western nations.
