Lenovo battery packs recalled

Consumers should stop using Lenovo battery packs. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: ThinkPad notebook computer battery packs

Hazard: The battery packs can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Replace

Consumer Contact: Lenovo at (800) 426-7378 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.lenovo.com and select Support at the top of the page, then click on the link to the recall page in the News and Alerts section at the bottom right of the page for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 34,500 in the United States and 2,900 in Canada

Description: This recall involves Lenovo battery packs sold with the following ThinkPad notebook computers: the Edge 11, 13 and 14 series, the T410, T420, T510 and W510 series, and the X100e, X120e, X200, X201 and X201s series. 

The battery packs were also sold separately. The black battery packs measure between 8 to 11 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide and about 1 inch high. Recalled battery packs have one of the following part numbers starting with the fourth digit in a long series of numbers and letters printed on a white sticker below the bar code on the battery pack: 42T4695, 42T4711, 42T4798, 42T4804, 42T4812, 42T4822, 42T4828, 42T4834, 42T4840 and 42T4890.

Incidents/Injuries: Lenovo has received two reports of the battery packs overheating, resulting in damage to the computer, battery pack and nearby property.  No injuries have been reported.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately turn off their ThinkPad notebook computer, remove the battery pack and contact Lenovo for a free replacement battery pack.  Consumers can continue to use their ThinkPad notebook without the battery pack by plugging in the AC adapter and power cord.

Sold at: Computer and electronics stores, authorized dealers and online at www.lenovo.com nationwide from October 2010 through April 2011 for between $350 and $3,000 when sold as part of ThinkPad notebook computers. The battery packs were also sold separately for between $80 and $150.

Importer: Lenovo Inc., of Morrisville, N.C.

Manufactured in: China