Dynabook Americas, formerly known as Toshiba, has issued a recall of over 15.5 million Toshiba-branded laptop AC adapters sold between April 2008 and December 2012. The AC adapters are being recalled due to a fire and burn hazard, with 679 reports so far of the adapters overheating, melting, catching fire, or burning.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that the recalled adapters were sold both separately and bundled with Toshiba laptops at various major retailers and online at Toshiba.com. The adapters were priced between $25 and $75 and manufactured in China.
According to the recall notice, there have been 43 reports of minor burns due to the defective adapters thus far. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the adapters and contact Dynabook Americas for a free replacement.
To verify if an AC adapter is affected, consumers can check the Dynabook Americas website for a list of model numbers and serial numbers included in the recall.
The company has stated that consumers will need to send a photo of their adapter with the cord cut, and certify proper disposal, to receive a replacement. Photos should be sent to dba-acadapter2024@dynabook.com
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While the recall affects over 15 million adapters sold in the U.S., and about 1.3 million more were sold in Canada. While this might not seem like a Nigerian problem, it should be noted that a number of laptops and other electronic devices imported into Nigeria come from the U.S., Canada, and a few other countries, and it is therefore essentially you check your laptop charger.
Industry analysts state the impact may be limited since the adapters were sold up to 12 years ago and included with older laptop models no longer in widespread use. However, the potential fire and burn risk makes it critical that consumers check if they have a recalled AC adapter and obtain a replacement.
This large-scale recall of laptop AC adapters underscores the importance of companies regularly evaluating product safety and initiating recalls when risks are identified. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using recalled products for their own safety.