Citing a potential hazard that could cause the machines to overheat, Japan’s Sony Corp has launched a voluntary recall of 4,38,000 Vaio portable computers. According to US Consumer Products Safety Commission, there has been various cases of overheating in Sony laptops. The commission said that in one case even a user had received minor burn during the use of the laptop.

 

The recall of laptops is not unprecedented; in the year 2006 Dell Inc had recalled 4.1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire. The major flaw in the Sony laptops is irregularly positioned wires near the computer’s hinge and/or dislodged screw inside the hinge, which causes a short circuit and overheat.

 

The firm has admitted that Sony’s VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 series computers have the issue. Sony has recalled 72,800 computers alone in the United States. The decision has impacted shares of Sony trading in the USA. Its shares dipped 2.4 per cent to $36.75 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday afternoon.