Panasonic Recalls 6,000 Notebook Batteries

In a development apparently unrelated to Dell's and Apple's massive battery recalls, Matsushita is recalling some 6,000 batteries sold with Panasonic notebooks in Japan.

In a development apparently unrelated to major notebook computer battery recalls recently issued by Dell and Apple, Matsushita announced today it is recalling some 6,000 batteries shipped with Panasonic Let’ Note CF-W4G notebooks sold in Japan between April and May, 2005.

A Matsushita spokesperson has said that the problem involves the batteries’ covers, which uses a spring latch which could become loose and could potentially create a fire hazard if the cover were to be damaged in an impact. Matsushita says it has received two reports of trouble with the batteries, but no cases where the batteries have caught fire or caused injury. Matsushita declined to name the supplier of the recalled batteries, save to say that Matsushita had not made the batteries itself, nor had they been supplied by Sony.

Sony manufactured the notebook batteries which are the subject of Apple and Dell’s current recall efforts; between the two companies, nearly 6 million batteries are affected. Matsushita’s current recall is much smaller in comparison.