Matsushita Electric Recalls 6,000 Li-Ion Batteries; Sony Not Involved

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. announced that it has initiated the recall of 6,000 lithium ion batteries used in Panasonic notebook computers after concerns over possible overheating.

Matsushita Electric's spokesman, Akira Kadota, said that the recall of batteries is only for computers in Japan. Kadota declined to name the maker of the batteries being recalled, but Sony batteries are not involved. The company said that it had started replacing the batteries from the initial shipments of its Let's Note CF-W4G notebook PCs produced in April and May 2005, after receiving a couple of complaints. A loose battery cover could result in heat production by the battery and a change in the latter's shape, thus affecting its functioning, Matsushita Electric said.

The recall by Matsushita Electric comes a few weeks after Dell Inc and Apple Computers recalled a large number of batteries due to overheating concerns. The batteries concerned were manufactured by a unit of Sony Corp. Matsushita Electric is replacing the batteries free of charge with cells that have stronger, fire-resistant covers. The recall comes in the wake of Japan's Ministry of Industry's request on August 24 that computer manufacturers should check the safety of their products, following recalls of Sony batteries.