As a San Francisco personal injury attorney, I want to alert you to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announcement of another voluntary “recall” of certain “dangerous product” models of Sony VAIO laptop computers due to a burn hazard. First, Sony recalled certain VAIO F and C series laptops. Next, those recalls spread to models made in China – models including the VPCF11 and the VPCCW2, with an expected 55,362 units additional units affected. All of the recalled laptops were sold in a variety of colors and have "VAIO" on the front outside panel.
In all, over 535,000 VAIO notebook computers made in China and the United States for Sony Electronics of San Diego, which were sold nationwide from January 2010 through April 2010, for between $800 and $1,500, have been “recalled.” These VAIO laptops pose the risk of a serious burn, according to the commission.
As of this writing, Sony has received 30 reports of the computers overheating, which caused the keyboards and casings to deform. No injuries have yet been reported, but even laptop computers that aren’t being recalled can get very hot, so if you have one of these laptops, get it fixed right away.
If you have the one of the recalled VAIO computers, you should know that this is not actually a physical recall. I put the word “recall” in quotes because Sony is claiming that there is a software fix for this. Consumers are advised to go to http://esupport.sony.com/US/f1cw2update for instructions on how to update BIOS firmware for the recalled products.
Consumers were also advised to contact a Sony retail outlet for help upgrading the BIOS firmware.
Consumers can call 866-496-7669 for information.
Claude A. Wyle is a partner of Choulos Choulos, and Wyle, a San Francisco based law firm dedicated to representing clients who have been injured by the wrongful conduct of individuals, corporations, public entities, and businesses. Mr. Wyle also frequently sits as a Judge Pro Tem for the city and county of San Francisco.
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