Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
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Recall (Free Replacement) of Battery Packs in Mobile Phones Manufactured by Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (NEC Casio Mobile Communications, Ltd. at present)

Serious product accidents have occurred where smoke came out from battery packs manufactured by Casio Computer Co., Ltd. and mounted on certain mobile phone models (the Casio Computer brand) manufactured by Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (NEC Casio Mobile Communications, Ltd. at present*; hereinafter referred to as “NEC Casio Mobile Communications”).

Though the cause of the accidents is still under investigation, it is supposed that they were brought about by the concurrence of the following factors: 1) the battery pack was damaged or dented by a strong external impact resulting in damage to the separator (insulation sheet) inside, 2) the battery pack was short-circuited inside due to repeated charges and discharges and 3) a substantial amount of the compound in the battery separated in the course of extended use.

To prevent further accidents, NEC Casio Mobile Communications and related telecommunication concerned (KDDI Corporation and Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company) issued a press release and posted a message on their websites today. They will send individual notices and replacement parts (battery packs) to mobile phone purchasers one by one starting from the end of October and ask users to carefully use the products. They will start free replacement of the products in question (battery packs) today.

The battery packs manufactured by Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd. and used in the mobile phones manufactured by NEC Casio Mobile Communications under the brand of Hitachi Consumer Electronics will be recalled at the same time, because they are similar to the products in question.

The accidents were announced by the Consumer Affairs Agency after they were reported as serious product accidents under the provision of Article 35, Paragraph 1 of the Consumer Product Safety Law.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) would like to ask consumers possessing the defective products to have them replaced free of charge by the above entrepreneurs so as to prevent any further accidents from occurring.

* Mobile phone business of Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. was succeeded by NEC Casio Mobile Communications, Ltd. in June 2010.

1. Accident phenomena and recurrence prevention measures

  1. Accident phenomena

    Serious product accidents have occurred where smoke came out from battery packs manufactured by Casio Computer Co., Ltd. and mounted on certain mobile phone models (the Casio Computer brand) manufactured by Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd Two serious product accident cases have been reported in accordance with Article 35, Paragraph 1 of the Consumer Product Safety Law (Control Nos. A201000604 and A201100239).

    Though the cause of the accidents is still under investigation, it is supposed that they were brought about by the concurrence of the following factors: 1) the battery pack was damaged or dented by a strong external impact resulting in damage to the separator (insulation sheet) inside, 2) the battery pack was short-circuited inside due to repeated charges and discharges and 3) a substantial amount of the compound in the battery separated in the course of extended use.

  2. To prevent further accidents, NEC Casio Mobile Communications and related telecommunication concerned (KDDI Corporation and Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company) issued a press release and posted a message on their websites today. They will send individual notices and replacement parts (battery packs) to mobile phone purchasers one by one starting from the end of October and ask users to carefully use the products. They will start free replacement of the products in question (battery packs) today.

    The battery packs manufactured by Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd. and used in the mobile phones manufactured by NEC Casio Mobile Communications with under brand of Hitachi Consumer Electronics will be recalled at the same time, because they are similar to the products in question.

2. Recalled products: product name, model, quantity, manufacturing period, appearance and identification

Mobile Phone Model Mobile Phone Manufacturing Period Battery Pack Model Battery Pack Recalled Quantity
W52CA (Casio Computer brand) From June 2007 to November 2007 52CAUAA 1,786,480 pieces
EXILIM Ketai W53CA (Casio Computer brand) From August 2007 to January 2008
Mobile Hi-Vision CAM Wooo (HIY01) (Hitachi Consumer Electronics brand) From July 2009 to September 2009 HIY01UAA 219,030 pieces

Recalled mobile phones


W52CA
(Casio Computer brand)


EXILIM Ketai
W53CA
(Casio Computer brand)


Mobile Hi-Vision CAM
Wooo (HIY01)
(Hitachi Consumer Electronics brand)

Recalled battery pack for mobile phone (Photo)

For W52CA/EXILIM Ketai W53CA

For Mobile Hi-Vision CAM Wooo (HIY01)

3. Actions by the companies

Battery pack will be replaced free of charge.

4. Notice by the company

  • Press release issuance: September 30, 2011
  • Posting a message on the website: September 30, 2011
  • Sending direct mails and replacement parts to the mobile phone purchasers: one by one from the end of October 2011

5. Alert to consumers

Anyone who possesses the above product should quickly contact the customer desk below.

6. Contact

“W52CA”, “EXILIM Ketai W53CA” and “Mobile Hi-Vision CAM Wooo”
Exclusive customer desk
  • Telephone number: 0120-963-052 (toll free)
  • Business hours: 9:00 - 19:00 (open even on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)
Website

Release Date

September 30, 2011

Division in Charge

Product Accident Information and Analysis Office, Product Safety Division, Commerce and Distribution Policy Group

Related Information

Product Safety
 
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