Recall: IBM Recall of AC Adapters for Notebook Computers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2004 Release # 04-208

IBM Recall Hotline: (800) 410-5629 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, IBM Announce Recall of AC Adapters for Notebook Computers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: AC Power Adapters

Units: About 225,000

Importer: International Business Machines (IBM) Corp., of Armonk, N.Y.

Manufacturer: Delta Electronics Inc., of Taipei, Taiwan

Hazard: The adapters can overheat, cause damage to the circuit board and melt through the housing, which poses a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: IBM has received six reports of incidents, including some with minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled 56W AC power adapters were shipped primarily with IBM ThinkPad i Series, 390 and 240 Series, and s Series notebook computers. The adapters have three hollow pins at the AC inlet and part number 02K6549 on a label on the top of the unit. The IBM logo appears on top of the unit. Adapters with solid pins are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Electronics and computer stores nationwide, the IBM Web site, phone orders, mail-order catalogs, and resellers sold the adapters with the ThinkPad computers from January 1999 through August 2000. The adapters also were sold as an accessory during that time for about $55.

Manufactured in: China.

Remedy: Consumers should unplug the recalled adapters from the wall outlet immediately and contact IBM for a free replacement unit.

Consumer Contact: Call IBM at (800) 410-5629 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to IBM's replacement unit Web site at www.AdapterProgram.com