Help keep Salon independent

If it’s Sony, it’s more dangerous laptop batteries

Toshiba recalls notebook batteries manufactured by Sony. Wait, didn't this already happen?

Published

Salon Default

Toshiba announced today that it’s recalling 1,400 laptop batteries because they pose a risk of overheating. The recall affects the company’s Satellite A100, Satellite A105, and Tecra A7 notebook models. This small recall comes just a month after Toshiba reissued 10,000 batteries that it said could catch fire. In all cases, the batteries were made by — who else? — Sony.

During the past couple years, Sony has become synonymous with bad portable batteries. Last year it recalled nearly 10 million units that powered a range of notebook brands; the recall cost the firm $418 million.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says Toshiba is putting out this latest recall after receiving three complaints — outside the U.S. — of overheated batteries; no injuries were reported.

If you own one of the affected Toshiba models, download the diagnostic software here to see if you’re entitled to get a free — presumably safe — battery from the company.

By Farhad Manjoo

Farhad Manjoo is a Salon staff writer and the author of True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society.

MORE FROM Farhad Manjoo

Related Articles