HP Expands Notebook PC Battery Pack Recall Due to Fire Risk, Says CPSC

HP expanded the recall of batteries for HP and Compaq computers, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Tuesday. The Panasonic lithium-ion batteries used in HP notebook computers shipped from March to October can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards, said CPSC. The expanded recall covers about 101,000 batteries, adding to the 41,000 batteries recalled in June. Some 3,000 were sold in Canada and 4,000 in Mexico. Batteries included in the expanded recall have bar codes starting with 6BZLU, 6CGFK, 6CGFQ, 6CZMB, 6DEMA, 6DEMH, 6DGAL and 6EBVA, said CPSC. HP received one additional report of a battery overheating, melting and charring, which was said to cause $1,000 in property damage. The June notice cited seven reports of battery packs overheating, melting or charring, causing $4,000 in damage. The laptops were sold at authorized retailers nationwide including Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club and Walmart for between $300 and $1,700, and batteries also were sold separately for $50 to $90, it said.