HP recalls 70,000 laptop batteries due to fire hazard

It’s been a while since we last heard of a major battery recall, but after experiencing some issues in recent months HP has decided to issue a voluntary recall of about 70,000 Li-ion batteries that shipped with several of its laptop models. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the move today, claiming that there have been two reported incidents where the batteries overheated and ruptured, resulting flames and a fire that caused minor property damage but no injuries.

The recall affects nine HP Pavilion models, nine Compaq Presario models, two HP models and a single HP Compaq laptop model sold between August 2007 and March 2008 – a detailed list is available here. The company is instructing owners of these models to remove the battery from their machine and, if it is subject to recall, contact HP for a free replacement. Laptop owners can keep using the AC power adapter to power their systems until a replacement battery arrives.