Sony Recalls Overheating Vaio TZ Notebooks

Sony has issued a recall for some 74,000 Vaio TZ-series notebook computers amid concerns the units could overheat.

Sony, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a voluntary recall for about 74,000 Sony Vaio TZ-series notebook computers amid concerns the units could overheat, potentially causing property damage or harming users. The recall applies to the VAIO VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-Z300, and VGN-TZ2000 series with 11.1-inch screens sold from July 2007 through last month.

Sony is blaming a wiring problem, and is offering users free inspection and, if necessary, repair of their Vaio notebook. The company encourages customers to visit Sony’s product support Web site and enter their product code and serial number to see if their PC is included in the recall; customers can also call Sony at 888/526-6219. Sony says customers can continue to use the systems, although the Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends customers stop using the notebook computers immediately.

Sony says it has received 15 reports of Vaio TZ-series notebooks overheating, including one case where a user suffered a minor burn.

Sony has been plagued by recall problems in the past; in 2006, the company was forced to recall more than 8 million notebook computer batteries it manufactured for everyone from Dell to Toshiba to Apple following a series of widely-publicized meltdowns.