In a major move affecting consumers and business users across North America, Toshiba is recalling 15.5 million laptop chargers in the U.S. due to overheating and fire hazard concerns.
The recall comes in response to 679 reported incidents in which AC adapters caught fire, melted or burned, resulting in 43 reported cases of minor burns.
Although the recall is widespread and affects millions of customers in the US and Canada, most of the laptops are likely no longer in circulation.
Toshiba recall
The affected AC adapters were sold individually and in bundles with Toshiba laptops between April 2008 and April 2014. The chargers, made in China, were produced between April 2008 and December 2012, and sold for between $25 and $75. Dollars.
In addition to the 15.5 million units sold in the US, another 1.3 million were sold in Canada, bringing the total number of affected units to an estimated 16.8 million.
Consumers are now urged to stop using the recalled AC adapters and contact Dynabook, Toshiba's new name since 2019, to arrange a free replacement.
Affected customers can send a photo of the AC adapter, with the power cord cut to demonstrate its disuse, to [email protected].
Toshiba has also created a website illustrating how customers can identify the part and serial number of their adapter to check if the device could be at risk.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also issued a statement providing more information on specific part numbers.
