Apple and Dell Notebook Batteries Recalled
Apple and Dell are both recalling lithium-ion batteries that were used in certain notebook computers. Apple is recalling 1.1 million of the batteries and Dell is recalling 4.1 million. All batteries in question could cause a fire. Here is some handy information to help you find answers from Apple and Dell if you think you have a battery to be recalled.
Apple Notebooks
The recalled lithium-ion batteries in Apple notebooks were used with the following computers:
- 12-inch iBook G4
- 12-inch PowerBook G4
- 15-inch PowerBook G4
Owners should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the unit. No other Apple notebooks are involved in this recall.
The affected notebooks were sold from October 2003 through August 2006 for between $900 and $2300. The batteries were sold separately for about $130.
Q: What steps do I take if I think I have an Apple battery under recall?
Owners should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Apple to arrange for a replacement battery to be sent to them free of charge. After removing the recalled battery from their iBook or PowerBook, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.
Q: How do I contact Apple for more information?
Contact Apple toll-free at 800-275-2273 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Central Time Monday through Sunday, or log onto http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram to check the battery's serial number and request a replacement battery.
Dell Notebooks
The recalled lithium-ion batteries in Dell notebooks were sold with or separately for use with the following computers:
- Latitude™ D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
- Inspiron™ 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 500m, 510m, 600m, 6400, E1505, 700m, 710m, 9400, E1705
- Dell Precision™ M20, M60, M70 and M90 mobile workstations
- XPS™ XPS Gen2, XPS M170 and XPS M1710
"Dell" and one of the following markings are printed on the batteries: "Made in Japan," "Made in China," or "Battery Cell Made in Japan Assembled in China." The identification number for each battery appears on a white sticker.
These computers were sold from April 2004 through July 2006. The computers with these batteries sold for between $500 and $2850 and individual batteries sold for between $60 and $180.
Q: What steps do I take if I think I have a Dell battery under recall?
Owners should stop using these recalled batteries immediately and contact Dell to receive a replacement battery. Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely by turning the system off, ejecting the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.
Q: How do I contact Dell for more information?
Contact Dell toll-free at 866-342-0011 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, log onto http://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/, or write to: Dell Inc., Attn: Battery Recall, 9701 Metric Blvd., Austin, Texas 78758.
Additional Resources
Information in this article was taken from the press announcements regarding the Apple and Dell battery recalls posted on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Spanish versions of these press releases are also available from this site.
AARP does not recommend or endorse any of these products or web sites. Please be advised that there are other similar products and web sites available which were not reviewed and are not listed here.
About the Author
Susan Ayers Walker is a leading-edge boomer with over 35 years experience in emerging technologies.
