HP – Compaq is recalling about 70,000 laptop batteries that may be a fire hazard. The recall as spelled out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states the following information:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.Name of Product: Lithium-Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard and Compaq notebook computers

Units: About 70,000

Importer: Hewlett-Packard Co., of Palo Alto, Calif.

Hazard: The recalled lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm and CPSC are aware of two reports of batteries that overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are used with various HP and Compaq notebook computers. Models that can contain a recalled battery include:

HP Pavilion Compaq Presario HP HP Compaq

dv2000 dv2500 dv2700 dv6000 dv6500

dv6700 dv9000 dv9500 dv9700

A900 C700 F700 V3000 V3500

V3700 V6000 V6500 V6700

G6000
G7000 6720s

Additional information can be found at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions web site including how to locate specific computer models as well as battery models. In addition they provide this contact information:

HP Battery Replacement Program Web site at http://www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement or call (800) 889-2031 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Comments welcome.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission