Sony Recalls Panasonic-made Lithium-ion Battery Packs of 18 Vaio Laptop Models

The risk of overheating and fire is prompting Sony to recall the lithium-ion battery packs installed in 18 models of Vaio laptops sold in most of 2013 at Best Buy and other stores, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a Wednesday notice. Sony sourced the battery packs from Panasonic’s Sanyo Energy (Suzhou) subsidiary in China, the notice said. About 1,700 Vaio laptops sold in the U.S. are affected, it said. Sony discontinued its Vaio PC business in 2014 (see 1405050061).