No one expects their computer to burn their house down – but turns out that HP thinks that their laptops might be up to the challenge.
Just when you thought you were safe from exploding tech, HP has announced that they need to recall some of their devices for safety reasons. The Palo Alto-based computer manufacturer has recalled an entire line of its notebook and mobile workstation computers because it turns out the battery could burst into flames. This is pretty embarrassing for the company considering it’s the second time in three years they’ve had to issue a major recall due to battery safety issues.
The decision came after eight consumers reported that their laptops were “overheating, melting or charring.” One incident led to a first-degree burn, whilst the others caused damages of up to $4,500. In a statement, a company spokesman said:
“We recently learned that batteries provided by one of our suppliers for certain notebook computers and mobile workstations present a potential safety concern. We are taking immediate action to address this issue including a voluntary recall and replacement of the batteries. Batteries affected by this recall have the potential to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to customers. HP’s primary concern is for the safety of our customers. This action pertains to 0.1 percent of the HP systems sold globally over the past two years.”
The HP products with the combustible batteries include the Envy, Zbook, Pavilion, Probook, Studio G3, and HP 11 models. Batteries sold as accessories or replacements through HP or authorized resellers have also been recalled. Customers can use this tool to check whether or not their machine is affected.
In the meantime, HP has suggested that users switch their laptops to ‘battery safe mode’ to reduce the chances of it, er, blowing up. This function allows people to continue to use their machine by plugging it into a power outlet, bypassing the potentially dangerous battery packs.
HP has been plagued by faulty battery issues since 2016. In the past three years, HP has had to recall a total of 250,000 units. It’s not exactly clear why they continue to install these temperamental batteries, but in the meantime, they’re attempting to do some damage control.
The company has said that affected customers will have their batteries replaced free of charge by a trained technician. However, it remains to be seen how many customers will take them up on the offer after seeing their laptop melt.
