Apple recalls 1.8M iBook & PowerBook batteries
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Apple plans to recall 1.1 million batteries in the United States, plus 700,000 sold abroad. A spokesman for the agency said it’s the second-largest recall ever in the computer and consumer-electronics sectors.
Update: The list of affected serial numbers has changed.
The recall affects lithium-ion batteries, which have been linked to reports of overheating and fires. The batteries were designed for Apple iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 models that were purchased between October 2003 and August of this year.
Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overheated computers and other reports of minor property damage, the CPSC reported. No serious injuries were reported.
Description: The recalled lithium-ion batteries were used with the following computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. Consumers should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the unit.
The recalled products were sold through Apple’s online store, Apple retail stores nationwide, and Apple Authorized Resellers for between $900 and $2300. The batteries also were sold separately for about $130.
The CPSC said consumers should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Apple to arrange for a replacement battery, free of charge. After removing the recalled battery from their iBook or PowerBook, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.
The following specific models & serial numbers are affected:
| Computer model name | Battery model number | Battery serial numbers |
| 12-inch iBook G4 | A1061 | ZZ338 through ZZ427; 3K429 through 3K611; 6C519 - 6C552 ending with S9WA, S9WC or S9WD |
| 12-inch PowerBook G4 | A1079 | ZZ411 through ZZ427; 3K428 through 3K611 |
| 15-inch PowerBook G4 | A1078 and A1148 | 3K425 through 3K601; 6N530 - 6N551 ending with THTA, THTB, or THTC; 6N601 ending with THTC |
You may contact Apple at (800) 275-2273 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday through Sunday or log on to the company’s Web site at http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram to check the battery’s serial number and request a replacement battery.
Just last week, Dell said it plans to recall more than 4 million laptop-computer batteries made by Sony, citing the possibility that they could possibly overheat and catch fire.
