Sony recalls 233,000 Vaios in USA, over 500,000 affected globally

By James Wells

CALIFORNIA: Sony USA has recalled 233,000 Vaio VPCF11 series and VPCCW2 series notebook computers following over 30 claims the computers "can overheat, posing a burn hazard to the consumer" with a total recall potentially exceeding 500,000 units.

In addition to the US models, there are over 100,000 potentially affected units in Europe, over 120,000 units in South East Asia and over 50,000 in Japan.

“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below [Sony], today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product,” said a statement released by the Commission.

“Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product,” the statement said.

“Sony has received 30 reports of units overheating resulting in deformed keyboards and casings. No injuries have been reported,” the statement said.
The recalled products, the VPCF11 Series and VPCCW2 Series notebook computers are available in many colours and have “VAIO” on the front outside panel. The model numbers can be found on the bottom of the computers, the Commission said.

The products were manufactured in China and the United States and sold at Best Buy, Costco, Frys, Amazon.com and Sony Style retail stores and sonystyle.com as well as other electronics retailers and business suppliers nationally. The recalled computers were shipped to consumers and resellers between January 2010 and April 2010. They sold for between $800 and $1,500.

US consumers have been advised that consumers should immediately go to http://esupport.sony.com/US/f1cw2update for instructions on how to update the computer’s BIOS firmware.

Consumers can also call Sony or visit Sony Style retail stores nationwide for help with installing the update. This firmware will prevent the computer from overheating. The firmware update will also be available through the VAIO Update software program installed on the recalled computers. A prompt will appear when users log on.

The following VPCF11 Series models are affected: VPCF111FD/B, VPCF111FX/B, VPCF111FX/H, VPCF112FX/B, VPCF112FX/H, VPCF113FX/B, VPCF113FX/H, VPCF114FX/B, VPCF114FX/H, VPCF115FM/B, VPCF115FM/BL, VPCF116FX/B, VPCF116FX/H, VPCF117FX/B, VPCF117FX/B, VPCF117FX/H, VPCF11AFX/B, VPCF11BFX/B, VPCF11CGX/B, VPCF11DGX/B, VPCF11EGX/B, VPCF11FGX/B, VPC11GGX/B, VPCF11HGX/B, VPCF11JFX/B, VPCF11KFX/H, VPCF11LFX/B, VPCF11MFX/B, VPCF11NFX/B, VPCF11PFX/H, VPCF11QFX/B, VPCF11QFX/H

The following VPCCW2 Series models are affected: VPCCW21FX/B, VPCCW21FX/P, VPCCW21FX/R, VPCCW21FFX/W, VPCCW22FX/B, VPCCW22FX/L, VPCCW22FX/P, VPCCW22FX/R, VPCCW22FX/W, VPCCW23FX/B, VPCCW23FX/L, VPCCW23FX/P, VPCCW23FX/R, VPCCW23FX/W, VPCCW26FX/B, VPCCW26FX/L, VPCCW26FX/P, VPCCW26FX/R, VPCCW27FX/B, VPCCW27FX/L, VPCCW27FX/P, VPCCW27FX/R, VPCCW27FX/W, VPCCW28FJ/W, VPCCW2AFX/B, VPCCW2BFX/B, VPCCW2CGX/B, VPCCW2DGX/B, VPCCW2EGX/B, VPCCW2FGX/B, VPCCW2GGX/B, VPCCW2HGX/B, VPCCW2JGX/B, VPCCW2KGX/B, VPCCW2LFX/B, VPCCW2LFX/L, VPCCW2LFX/P, VPCCW2LFX/R, VPCCW2LFX/W, VPCCW2MFX/PU, VPCCW2MFX/WJ, VPCCW2MGX/B, VPCCW2NFX/LU, VPCCW2PFX/L, VPCCW2PFX/R, VPCCW2FX/W, VPCCW2QGX/B, VPCCWERGX/B, VPCCW2SGX/B, VPCCW2TGX/B, VPCCW2UFX/B, VPCCW2VFX/B.