Dell recall prompts inquiry into all Sony laptop batteries

Just as we suspected, Dell may not be the only manufacturer recalling countless batteries due to fire hazards, as the Sony-made lithium-ions are also found in laptops from Apple, HP, and Lenovo, not to mention a variety of other consumer electronics products. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the batteries "are not unique to just the Dell notebook computers," and have launched a review of all Sony laptop cells manufactured between April 2004 and June of this year. Some manufacturers, like Apple, claim to be looking into the matter on their own, while others -- namely HP -- have publicly distanced themselves from the affair by stating that "It's a Dell issue." Sony itself also believes the problem is limited to batteries in Dell PCs, while Lenovo seems to be side-stepping the recall with claims that "we have not seen any unusual pattern of problems in our notebooks." Although it's true that the recent spate of toasty lappies does indeed seem confined to machines from the Texas-based manufacturer, we have a hard time believing that Sony was only sending crappy batteries to Dell while everyone else got quality product. That being said, we're anxious to hear the results of the CPSC's inquiry, but until that time, we certainly won't be so cavalier about keeping our notebooks powered up 24/7, regardless of branding.

[spud boy @ Aug 16th 2006 11:10AM]

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If it's a cell defect, it would affect all of Sony's battery customers, which is a long list indeed.
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[Sam @ Aug 16th 2006 11:11AM]

Another kick in the crotch for the Sony brand name. I was once the biggest Sony-phile, but incidents like these have recently turned me away from seeking Sony consumer products first.

[tb @ Aug 16th 2006 11:17AM]

dell can get those same quality batteries as other manufacturers.
all they have to do is install more spy ware than they already do on their machines, it is that simple.

[Stephen @ Aug 16th 2006 11:20AM]

Does sony use its own batteries or not? Maybe they are trying to sabotage the competition

[Pedro Pinheiro @ Aug 16th 2006 11:24AM]

Could it be a problem with the power management/charging circuits in the Dell laptops, and not with the batteries themselves? I know modern batteries are pretty "intelligent" by themselves, but couldn't it be an integration issue?

[Kamalot @ Aug 16th 2006 11:26AM]

I'm waiting for the full line of products that install root-kits and explode. Think of it: memory sticks, blurry discs and the best one of them all, the combustable PS3!

http://www.iplayalot.com/Sony/Sony_Iceberg.jpg

[Kyle @ Aug 16th 2006 11:30AM]

Leave it to Sony to produce explosive batteries...

I heard that upon opening the box that the PS3 comes in, the system explodes on the spot. This prevents you from enjoying it a little before it ignites...or starting your TV on fire.

[Tom @ Aug 16th 2006 11:38AM]

It wouldn't be a surprise to learn that Dell was getting different product from Sony than other producers. Dell, like Walmart, are known for being relentless in getting supplier costs down, penny by penny.

You could imagine someone from Sony saying, "Sure we can get the cost down by another $.10 per battery, but that will increase the chance of battery failure from 1 in 1,000,000 to 1 in 50,000" and Dell jumping at the cost reduction.

[cheekky @ Aug 16th 2006 11:51AM]

This might not be Sony's fault at all... It may be that Dell's laptop wiring is done in such a way that it causes Sony's batteries to ignite?

Anyway... Just giving my two cents

[ben @ Aug 16th 2006 11:57AM]

could dell getting the batteries that pop possibly have anything to do with the specifications/usage they ask for on the units? Where the other companies have more resonable/safer specs/usage on the batteries? Perhaps a cost thing like Tom suggested...

Also, does sony just provide the cells or the whole unit?

[GJR @ Aug 16th 2006 11:58AM]

The dude on Olberman said he hadn't used his since the night before and it was sitting on the floor board of his truck when it caught fire--so powering down isn't really a safety option. Ye gods, what a mess!

[Firey1 @ Aug 16th 2006 12:02PM]

What about all the apple notebooks that have caught on fire with regard to the battery. Wouldn't hp think about that. What about lenvo. I just can't wait for one of hp's or lenvos notebooks to catch on fire. At least dell is thinking to recall because they also sell two to three times the notebooks of the other manufacturers.

[shamste @ Aug 16th 2006 12:14PM]

I agree with Tom and ben on this. My initial reaction was that Dell probably had lower tolerances/quality control in their contract with Sony in order to lower costs. It could also have something to do with the design of the batteries, which could be specific to the Dell destined units.

[Ketsuke @ Aug 16th 2006 12:37PM]

Sigh...
This is getting old. Okay, fanboys and anti-fanboys, lets go: "S0ny 1s teh sux0r! lol" "no is not" ad nauseaum... I wonder why I even bother reading any post that contains the Sony keyword.

-as a side note, I have a Sony TV, a PSX, a PS2, a VAIO, a Discman and my car stereo is a Sony. I have had sony products all my life even before those, and so far I have had no issues. Ever. I just cannot understand the rampant fanboyism for and against one goddamn company here.

my two (unasked for) cents

[Vexorg @ Aug 16th 2006 12:49PM]

At least Dell seems to be handling the recall pretty quickly. I ordered my replacement battery for my Inspiron 6000 on Monday evening, and it arrived this morning, shipped by next day air.

[Ketsuke @ Aug 16th 2006 12:57PM]

What I said above can also apply to that fan darling (Nintendo.. Oh no he didn't dare!) and of course Microsoft (I refuse to spell it with the dollar $ign$.)

now I am up to four cents.

[Frederick @ Aug 16th 2006 12:58PM]

Front page of Singapore's Straits Times :
Checks recommended on 69,000 Dell laptops due to possible battery problems.

[TexRob @ Aug 16th 2006 1:07PM]

Ketsuke, I have been a die-hard Sony fan for over 15 years. I still am to an extent. I have 90% Sony products in my house. Between poor choices with Blu-ray, PS3 arrogance, and things like this, I seriously have to question their ideals as of late. I think they have taken the Sony name and have begun to drive it into the ground. They are thriving on the Sony name right now, but if they don't gear themselves back towards quality above all else, they are going to irrepairably damage their name.

As for this topic, from what I understand of these Lithium Polymer batteries, they become unstable when voltages get low. Because of this, it lies in the hands of the laptop manufacturer to make sure they have the proper charging and power management systems in place to keep the batteries from discharging too much. This would mean that a Dell only problem is entirely possible.

[Ketsuke @ Aug 16th 2006 2:16PM]

Ok I get a couple of points (rootkit, push of propietary formats,) but arrogance? Who gives a damn? I certainly do not. If a company spokesbot says that I will want x product no matter the price, then deliver. If not, then we can attribute it to a marketing tactic gone bad, but belief in their own product and its value is something that should not be seen as negative. What do you want, people begging on their knees for your cash?
As far as the price point, I consider myself a hard core gamer, but not an early adopter. What I am trying to say is that, yes I will buy the PS3 when it comes out if it is the best thing since internet pr0n. I leave the growing pains to the early adopters. If it fails horrible with craptastic games, then I will look at the alternatives (Wii, yes I am looking at you) That is how I have a DS and not a PSP (even though I owned both at one time.)

I hope this post makes sense (it did to me at the time.)

[Shoaib @ Aug 16th 2006 2:21PM]

I have a Sony Vaio, its been on for the past uhh 482 hours, should i be worried :}

[Ketsuke @ Aug 16th 2006 2:22PM]

Okay I am done, sorry, no more offtopic posts.

[dmill89 @ Aug 16th 2006 3:30PM]

Well It verry well could just be a Dell issue. Sony batteries are part of the problem but the outher part is that Dell's cheaper notebooks don't have a sensor in the battery compartment to cut power if the battery starts to dangeriously overheating.Most other manufactures have been useing these sensors in all of their notebooks for years.

[Perrey Z. @ Aug 16th 2006 4:20PM]

So after all the news, recalls and verbal riots in this blog the explosive notebooks are not Dell's fault but Sony's fault., why it doesn't surprise me a bit? I guess their {Sony} timers just ran off and BOOM! On a serious note, I'm still worry about the possible danger of the battery packs on the VAIOs.

[Koray @ Aug 16th 2006 5:51PM]

Rip any laptop's battery apart, take the cells out while they are charged and full, make a short-circuit and watch what happens. It doesn't matter if it a Sony, Sanyo or LG cell, they all explode because they are Li-Ion batteries. Well I believe Dell blurted out Sony's name either they wanted to divert the attention towards them, or because the only plant that used Sony cells did a lousy job on packing those circuits!

[George @ Aug 17th 2006 2:43PM]

"others -- namely HP -- have publicly distanced themselves from the affair by stating that "It's a Dell issue." So, no Burning Laptop issues at HP? check this out:
http://expressen.se/index.jsp?d=10&a=578852
May 2006, Stockholm paper, HP Pavililion zd 8180EA laptop bought in 2005...the article references batteries as the issue....

[^garfield2^ @ Aug 21st 2006 6:35AM]

I always told people that Dell is not a good product, they use cheap stuff and sell for damn fucking expensive.
But too bad, no one believe.
Their mother board is like shit!
Now even the battery they buy also they buy the cheapest one to sell with the damn fucking low cost laptop.
Now see, how sux is Dell's product?
I bet you know the answer,
is damn fucking sux!!!!!!
The most sux in the world!!!!

[josh @ Aug 21st 2006 1:14PM]

I bought a replacement battery for my Dell laptop about a month ago from http://www.laptopsforless.com/laptopbattery and it works great. Is there any reason to think that a replacement laptop battery would be any worse that the manufacturers?

[g @ Sep 15th 2008 5:35PM]

BEWARE! SONY will break your laptop and then not take responsibility for it. They sent a tech who had never done the repair to my site, the tech then breaks the power button. I ask him to remove the hard drive before sending it in because I have sensitive data. He calls support and support says that would void warranty because they were unwilling to send someone back to install the hard drive and that anyone else would void warranty. First they break my laptop, then when I try to ask for alternative solutions to fixing it, the lady from support get's bitchy with me and says there are none. Her name is Laura ID#6250 at 888-476-6972.