Overheating Risk Spurs Toshiba To Recall Panasonic-Made Laptop Battery Packs

Toshiba America Information Systems is recalling lithium-ion battery packs used in its laptops because of the risk they can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a Wednesday notice. The battery packs, which were sourced from Panasonic, were installed in 39 models of Toshiba Portege, Satellite and Tecra laptops sold since June 2011 through Office Depot, Staples and other major retailers and at Toshiba’s online store, the notice said. Toshiba estimates about 91,000 laptops sold in the U.S., plus 10,000 sold in Canada, are affected, the notice said. Toshiba has received four reports of the battery packs overheating and melting, but no injuries have been reported, it said.